Khloe Kardashian has clarified her relationship with her on-off boyfriend Tristan Thompson, after confirming he moved in with her earlier this year.
The reality star split from the basketball player at the end of 2021, after it was revealed that he fathered a child with another woman while they were still together.
But during the latest episode of The Kardashians, the mother-of-two revealed her ex and his 16-year-old brother Amari moved in with her following the death of their mother.
Back in January, the NBA star’s mother Andrea tragically died of a heart attack at the age of 53.
Recalling the moment Tristan called her to share the devastating news, Khloe said: “I didn’t really understand what he was saying.”
“He was just like screaming on the phone, trying to tell me that she’s gone, but I had no idea who he was talking about.”
Khloe was incredibly close to Tristan’s mother, and travelled to Toronto with Kris Jenner and Kim Kardashian at the time to be with him and his family.
Following the death of his mother, Tristan became his brother Amari’s legal guardian.
In a confessional, Khloe explained: “Amari is 16, and he is severely disabled. It’s just really sad, because we don’t know what he knows or doesn’t know, cognitively.”
Tristan later moved back to California with his brother, but he was faced with another tragedy when his roof caved in due to extreme weather.
Luckily, the pair were able to move in with Khloe while Tristan’s house remained unliveable.
“Tristan and Amari are staying at my house right now until his home gets fixed,” Khloe revealed during a confessional.
“I’m grateful that I’m strong enough and brave enough to be a support system for someone else that has no other support system right now. You don’t have to treat me right for me to treat you right—it’s not the way I was raised.”
Later in the episode, Khloe’s sister Kim pointed out how the universe kept bringing Khloe and Tristan back together, despite her trying to set boundaries with her ex.
“Isn’t God just, like, funny?” Kim said. “You were so ready to have your year of being free, and now, Tristan had to move in with you, his little brother had to move in with you, his roof caved in. What are the chances?”
Khloe replied: “My No. 1 slogan I always use: You want to make God laugh, tell him your plans. God does have a plan. And God doesn’t want him to be alone right now. And why should he be?”
While fans are still convinced Khloe and Tristan are secretly back together, the 39-year-old insisted there is no romance between them.
“I know it’s hard for everyone to believe, but I love, love, love Andrea and I love Tristan. I love Amari. This is what family does,” she explained.
“Tristan is the father of my kids… I know how close Tristan and his mom are, and I just, it’s just heartbreaking. And then to be left with the responsibility of another person as well, it’s a lot.”
“I just think this is what family does when s**t hits the fan. All you have is your family. And Tristan and I are family, and we’re gonna be family for the rest of our lives.”
During a previous episode of The Kardashians, the Good American founder opened up about her relationship with Tristan, and why she forgave him for the way he wronged her.
Khloe said: “Tristan and I, we always get along great. Him and I have a great friendship relationship, we get along fine, and for my kids, I will put anything to the side.”
“What’s done is done, so what would I still be holding on to something for? I don’t need to ‘punish’ him because I’m not getting back with him.”
“There’s still boundaries, I’m definitely putting my foot down around a lot of things. No one’s just here chilling if there’s no kids involved.”
The 39-year-old continued: “These boundaries are so important to put into place with Tristan because we’ve done this song and dance a handful of times already.”
“I’ve gotten back with him after a cheating scandal so I don’t know if Tristan is under the impression, ‘Oh wow, OK, let’s just ride this out and eventually she’ll get back with me.’”
“I get why he would think that, so it’s my job to set boundaries that my actions show otherwise. I keep it very short and sweet and make sure he knows it’s always about the kids because it’s so easy to fall back into [habits]. I can’t let those old habits easily come into my life. It’s just not what I want.”
Speaking to her momager Kris Jenner, Khloe added: “It’s always about the kids, and that’s what it is. But we’re not just hanging out by ourselves.”
Khloe called off her nine-month engagement to Tristan in December 2021, after it was revealed that he had fathered a child with another woman.
Just days before the paternity scandal came to light, Khloe and Tristan’s surrogate became pregnant with their second child.
The former couple started dating in 2016, but their relationship hit the rocks when the NBA star was accused of cheating – just days before Khloe gave birth to their daughter True in April 2018.
The reality star controversially decided to stand by Tristan, but less than one year later, he was caught kissing family friend Jordyn Woods at a house party in February 2019.
Khloe dumped the basketball player for good, but she decided to give their relationship another chance in 2020 – after they grew close during lockdown.
Months later, the couple split again in June 2021 after Tristan was accused of cheating with Instagram model Sydney Chase, but the pair reconciled towards the end of the year.
Just weeks later, it was revealed that Tristan fathered a child with personal trainer Maralee Nichols, which put an end to his relationship with Khloe once and for all.
Maralee became pregnant with Tristan’s third child last March, and she gave birth to their son on December 1, 2021.
It is understood Khloe was still in a relationship with Tristan when he had sex with Maralee, as she threw him a 30th birthday party that same month.
After a paternity test confirmed Tristan is the father of Maralee’s son, he took to his Instagram Stories to publicly apologise to Khloe.
He wrote: “I take full responsibility for my actions. Now that paternity has been established I look forward to amicably raising our son. I sincerely apologise to everyone I’ve hurt or disappointed throughout this ordeal both publicly and privately.”
Addressing Khloe directly, Tristan wrote: “Khloe, you don’t deserve the heartache and humiliation my actions have caused you.”
“You don’t deserve the way I have treated you over the years. My actions certainly have not lined up with the way I view you. I have the utmost respect and love for you.”
“Regardless of what you may think. Again, I am so incredibly sorry,” he added.
Last September, it was revealed that Tristan and Khloe were secretly engaged before their split, after he proposed in February 2021.
Their second child together – a baby boy – was born via surrogate last July.
