Khloé Kardashian is opening up about her special bond with ex Tristan Thompson’s brother, Amari.
The Good American cofounder, 41, shared on the Wednesday, July 30, episode of her “Khloé in Wonder Land” podcast that she has “chosen” to be one of Amari’s carers, noting that the 18-year-old is “severely disabled” due to Lennox-Gastaut syndrome, a “form of epilepsy.” As a result, “he can’t walk or talk,” Khloé said.
Khloé said she has been involved in Amari’s care since Tristan’s mother, Andrea, died in January 2023.
“Andrea was the sole caretaker for Amari and they lived in Canada. When Tristan’s mom passed away a few years ago, we — me, Tristan, my whole family — took Amari back with us to the States,” she said.
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Khloé explained, “Tristan is in the NBA and he is in a different state, literally, every other day or every few days, and it’s just not conducive for Amari to be on that many planes. Amari has a handful of seizures a day with the type of epilepsy that he has.”
“So Amari stays in L.A. with me and I have chosen to take care of him and be there for him because it’s not good that he travels,” she continued. “California weather is so good for Amari, and I just love having Amari be a part of my family.”
Khloé said that she employs two “sensational caretakers” to help care for Amari. “We just want to provide Amari with the best, most beautiful life that we know how. And he deserves that,” the Kardashians star said.
Khloé and Tristan, 34, began dating in September 2016. They welcomed daughter True, 7, in April 2018 amid Tristan’s cheating scandal. The couple eventually split in June 2021, though they welcomed son Tatum, 3, via surrogate in July 2022 and remain committed to coparenting their little ones.
On Wednesday’s podcast, Khloé explained why she remains committed to looking after Amari, despite no longer being with Tristan. According to the star, it’s less to do with the basketball player and more about her bond with his late mom.
“When I met Tristan and his family, like, nine years ago, Andrea and I became such good friends. I had such a great relationship with Andrea and I would help her with Amari, medically,” Khloé explained. “She would have questions, she would need connections to certain doctors, and I would help with that. I was very much involved in all of his medical appointments when Andrea was here.”
Khloé continued, “I also know how much Amari means to Andrea and she passed away because she had a sudden heart attack. Me being in a relationship or not with Tristan, I still have this family that I’ve spent so many years with, that I have such connections with, that my relationship with Andrea has nothing to do with Tristan. Amari deserves my love and care regardless of where me and Tristan stand.”
Khloé also opened up about Amari’s bond with her and Tristan’s two children, as well as his relationship with the wider Kardashian-Jenner clan.
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“I think it’s so important for my kids, my nieces and nephews, to be exposed to all different types of people in the world,” she said. “I think it teaches everyone compassion, understanding. It opens up their minds to seeing, ‘Wow, Amari is disabled, sure, but he’s also just like us at the same time.’”
She added, “And I love seeing how Amari lights up when he’s around the kids. He can’t verbally talk, but … if you know him well enough, he can definitely express himself and you see the glimmer in his eyes.”
“He’s such an amazing, amazing young man, and I’m so proud and honored that I have Amari in my life,” Khloé concluded.
