Khloe Kardashian Finally Acknowledges Tristan Thompson's Son on 'The Kardashians'
Khloe Kardashian opens up about the adorable bond between Tristan Thompson and Maralee Nichols' son, Theo, during a heartfelt moment on 'The Kardashians'
Khloe Kardashian. Hulu
Khloé Kardashian and Tristan Thompson discussing his tumultuous personal life is a common occurrence on The Kardashians. However, what took everyone by surprise on a recent episode was when they brought up his son with Maralee Nichols.
In the latest episode of The Kardashians, which premiered on Thursday, November 16, Khloé, 39, and Tristan, 32, revisited the paternity scandal that resulted in Tristan's public apology. Before addressing his infidelity with Kylie Jenner and Kourtney Kardashian, Tristan once again opened up to Khloé about his actions.
"It's a journey of personal growth. Each person has their own time to mature and develop. Therapy has been instrumental in helping me understand that living life without regrets is crucial," he expressed to his ex-partner, with whom he has a 5-year-old daughter named True, and a 17-month-old son named Tatum. "I have reached a point where I have gained insight and can acknowledge the mistakes I made. Perhaps, in the past, I was unaware of the possible harm I caused."
During a confessional, Khloé commended Tristan for actively addressing his personal struggles.
"Tristan has dedicated a significant amount of time to therapy and self-improvement. He aims to show that he has transformed into a better person, and I want to make it clear that I am not directly involved in these personal endeavors," she expressed to the cameras. "The responsibility to mend relationships lies between Tristan and each individual family member."
The cofounder of Good American gently reminded Tristan that not everyone has fully healed from his series of infidelities. She emphasized that in this family, actions inflicted upon one member impact everyone, and they are entitled to their own emotions. It was not a minor incident that occurred. Nevertheless, time has elapsed, and we must move forward. Both our son and your other son are present now."
Tristan Thompson. George Pimentel/Getty Images
Tristan became a father in 2016 when his ex-girlfriend, Jordan Craig, gave birth to their son, Prince. After their breakup, Tristan moved on with Khloé and they announced their pregnancy a year later. Their daughter, True, was born in 2018.
After a turbulent relationship marked by cheating scandals, Tristan and Khloé briefly reconciled in 2021. However, news emerged that Maralee, 33, filed a lawsuit against the NBA player for child support. In January 2022, Tristan confirmed that he is the father of Maralee's son, Theo, who is now 23 months old, after requesting a DNA test.
"I accept complete accountability for my actions," he stated through his Instagram Story at that moment. "With paternity now confirmed, I eagerly anticipate co-parenting our son in a civil manner. I genuinely apologize to all those whom I have harmed or let down during this challenging situation, both in the public eye and in private."
Tristan and Khloé welcomed their second child, a baby boy, in July 2022 through the help of a surrogate. (They learned about their second pregnancy before Maralee's lawsuit became public knowledge.)
In a heartfelt discussion with Khloé, Tristan expressed his desire to seek forgiveness from her family. He emphasized the importance of taking responsibility as a man, explaining his decision to embark on an apology tour after speaking privately with Kris Jenner, Rob Kardashian, and Kim Kardashian.
Tristan's efforts to make amends have become the central focus of season 4, though not everyone has been pleased with him. Recently, Jordan's sister, Kai Craig, accused Tristan of neglecting his parental responsibilities towards Prince, as footage of him with his children with Khloé was aired on Hulu.
Expressing her frustration on Instagram in October, Kai stated that she had remained silent for over 7 years out of respect for her sister's privacy. However, she felt compelled to speak up now, as she believed the situation had become too unbearable. She expressed her pain at witnessing Tristan's willingness to do nice things for others while failing to fulfill his role as a real parent to her nephew Prince.
Kai questioned why Tristan couldn't put in the same effort for his own eldest child. She highlighted the fact that he found time to accompany other children to school and activities in the same city, yet rarely showed any involvement or communication with his own son, except for parties or planned photo opportunities. She emphasized that being a good father is not solely about financial support, but also about investing time in one's child. Kai made it clear that Tristan could not be considered a good father if he couldn't fulfill this responsibility for all of his children.
New episodes of The Kardashians air on Hulu every Thursday.
