The Dramatic Evolution of Kim and Kourtney Kardashian's Relationship

Kim Kardashian and Kourtney Kardashian's relationship has been anything but easy. The two sisters, along with their family, became household names with the premiere of Keeping Up With the Kardashians in 2007. The reality series gave viewers an up-close look at the family's personal and professional lives.

Kim has often been credited for the success of the entire family, despite the show focusing on everyone. In 2016, she shared with Editorialist magazine, "It's so funny because I'll hear stories like, 'Kris Jenner is the puppet master, having all of her kids do this and that,' and I'm like, 'If they only knew.' I'm the one that will be like, 'Kylie, do this. Kendall, you should do this.'" However, during the season 17 finale of KUWTK, Kourtney jokingly imitated Kim and claimed, "I pretty much started this entire family. No one would be anywhere or anything without me."

Following their major argument during season 15, the siblings shared a playful moment one year later. The clash erupted when Kourtney prioritized spending time with her children over scheduling for a family photo shoot. In the episode, Kourtney firmly stated her intentions of leaving at 4 p.m., to which Kim responded with a heated retort, telling her to leave and that no one wanted her in the shoot.

Kim refused to back down, even as Kris tried to diffuse the argument. "If you were running a business that you truly cared about, then you would understand the hard work and dedication it requires. But you don't, so don't pretend to know what I'm talking about," she snapped. She added insult to injury by declaring, "She's the least interesting to look at." This disagreement over work ethic would continue to divide the sisters for years, with Kourtney even considering leaving their reality TV career behind. The feud reached its boiling point in 2020, when it turned physical and prompted Rob to compare his sisters to the cast of Bad Girls Club on Twitter.

On a 2022 episode of the “Not Skinny But Not Fat” podcast, Kourtney discussed her relationship with Kim, revealing how the daily pressures of their reality show often led to intense fights between them. She admitted to feeling the urge to lash out at times, and even blacking out in the heat of the moment. However, Kourtney also emphasized the importance of setting boundaries and prioritizing her own well-being, explaining that she prefers to maintain a small circle and protect her energy.

Kim expressed her reluctance to have conflicts within the family in a May 2023 teaser for season 3 of The Kardashians, despite tensions resurfacing. The cause of the argument was hinted to be related to their connections with Dolce & Gabbana. Kourtney, who previously starred in Kourtney and Khloé Take Miami, stated that there were no boundaries or respect.

Khloé's dramatic voiceover hinted at the family's brewing tension, questioning how they ended up in this situation. Take a stroll down memory lane to revisit the ups and downs of Kim and Kourtney's relationship over the years.

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Kim Kardashian's Ups and Downs With Sister Kourtney Kardashian Over the Years: From Spinoffs to Physical Fights

The most exciting drama to keep up with. Kim Kardashian's relationship with Kourtney Kardashian hasn't always been smooth sailing.

The Kardashian-Jenner clan rose to fame after the debut of their reality show, Keeping Up With the Kardashians in 2007. The series documented the family's personal and professional lives, showcasing both their triumphs and struggles. While the show highlighted the entire family, Kim Kardashian often takes credit for their success. In an interview with Editorialist magazine in 2016, she revealed that she is the one who makes the calls, directing her siblings on what to do - not their mother, Kris Jenner.

During the season 17 finale of KUWTK, Kourtney couldn't resist poking fun at her sister's comments from three years prior, when they all dressed up as each other at Kris' request. In the December 2019 episode, while imitating her sister Kim, Kourtney quipped to the camera, "I pretty much started this entire family. No one would be anywhere or anything without me." This lighthearted moment came a year after the sisters' infamous argument over scheduling for a family photo shoot during season 15, where Kourtney prioritized spending time with her children.

"I am leaving at 4 p.m. and I am not going to change my mind," stated Kourtney to Kim and Kris during the 2018 episode. In response, the Selfish author retorted, "Leave and don't bother coming back! Nobody wants you here for the shoot." Despite Kris' efforts to mediate the argument, Kim went on to say, "If only you had a business that you were truly passionate about, then you would understand the effort and dedication required to run it. But you don't, so don't pretend to comprehend what I'm saying. ... Honestly, she's the least interesting to look at."

During their years together on reality TV, Kourtney and Kim frequently clashed over their differing work ethics. While Kourtney considered leaving the show altogether, their feud escalated in 2020, resulting in a physical altercation and Rob Kardashian comparing them to the cast of Bad Girls Club on Twitter. In a 2022 episode of the "Not Skinny But Not Fat" podcast, Kourtney revealed that the tension between them was so intense that she "blacked out" during their fights and had to deal with feelings of rage towards her sister on a daily basis.

"I believe that some of us have a stronger desire to have our own space and pursue our own interests. For me, it's important to maintain my personal bubble and safeguard my energy. I enjoy the flexibility of being able to immerse myself in my own world as I please, and then withdraw from it when I want to." Despite the apparent resolution of their conflict, tensions resurfaced during the third season of The Kardashians. In a teaser for May 2023, Kim expressed her reluctance to engage in family quarrels, alluding to her disagreement with Kourtney regarding their connections to Dolce & Gabbana.

"The lack of boundaries and respect is becoming a major issue," stated the former star of Kourtney and Khloé Take Miami. In a dramatic tone, Khloé pondered, "How did we end up in this tense situation?" as she seemed to reflect on the ongoing family drama.

Scroll down for a look back at Kim and Kourtney's highs and lows through the years:

Credit: Courtesy of Kim Kardashian's Ups and Downs With Sister Kourtney Kardashian Over the Years: From Spinoffs to Physical Fights/Instagram

2007

Kim and her siblings rose to fame with the premiere of KUWTK. The E! series ran for 20 seasons, coming to an end in 2021. 

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2009

To expand their fashion empire, Kourtney and Khloé ventured into Miami to launch a new D-A-S-H boutique. The sisters' journey was documented in their spinoff show, Kourtney and Khloé Take Miami. In the third season of the show, Kim replaced her younger sister and continued the family's reality TV legacy.

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2011

The dynamic duo journeyed to Manhattan for the filming of Kourtney and Kim Take New York, which focused on the tumultuous marriage between Kim Kardashian and Kris Humphries. The marriage, which lasted only 72 days after their August 2011 wedding, became infamous for its short duration and highly publicized divorce.

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2016

According to Kourtney, there are times when she and Kim disagree on their respective parenting approaches, resulting in occasional arguments. In an interview with The New Potato, she admitted that they both have their own unique ways of doing things and try to communicate with each other to find a common ground. However, Kourtney mentioned that Kim sometimes makes sarcastic comments about her parenting style, which can be hurtful. It's worth noting that Kim has four children with her ex-husband Kanye West, and the couple divorced in 2021 after being married for almost seven years.

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2018

The dynamic between the two sisters drastically changed in season 15 of KUWTK. In a tense preview, Kourtney can be seen breaking down over feeling mistreated by her family, after Kim made a hurtful comment during a Christmas card photoshoot, calling her "the least exciting to look at."

"You're a very distraught, evil human being," Kourtney told her sister over the phone. "I don't wanna see you, OK? I don't agree with who you are as a human being."

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2019

During a fitting session with the Thierry Mugler team before her 2019 Met Gala appearance, Kourtney facetimed her sister and couldn't help but make a playful jab at Kim's outfit - a blue spandex dress and sparkly wig. "Is it October 31st?" she quipped with a chuckle.

That same year, they argued over the Candy Land theme of their daughters' joint birthday party. 

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2020

The siblings' ongoing disagreement about their differing approaches to work ultimately escalated to a physical altercation captured on camera during filming for KUWTK. Kim threatened to hit Kourtney, who responded defiantly. Despite Khloé's intervention, Kourtney left a mark on Kim's arm with her nails. Kim expressed frustration at her sister's behavior, questioning her maturity level during the heated exchange.

Credit: Courtesy of Kim Kardashian's Ups and Downs With Sister Kourtney Kardashian Over the Years: From Spinoffs to Physical Fights/Instagram

2021

Kourtney reminisced about the time when Kim called her the "least exciting" sister during one of Kylie's YouTube vlogs. She admitted that initially, it hurt her feelings, and she couldn't comprehend why a member of her family would say something like that. However, with time, she has learned to find the humor in it, and it has now become a running joke among the sisters.

She later called Kim, who seemed to regret her shady comment. "That was such a low blow," she told Kourtney. 

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2022

Kim provided heartwarming advice to her sister Kourtney before her wedding with Travis Barker in Italy, which was documented on Hulu's Til Death Do Us special in 2023. "Take your time, savor the moment. This is a once-in-a-lifetime experience," were the words of wisdom that Kim imparted to Kourtney.

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2023

The third season of The Kardashians saw a resurgence of tension between Kim and Kourtney. In the show's official trailer, Kourtney voiced her suspicions that her sister was exploiting her wedding in Italy for business purposes.

During a Today show interview, Kim described the season as her "most emotional and frustrating internally with family" as she teased how the feud unfolded on screen.

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2023

"We have a lot of fun teasing Kim, Khloé and I. But when that dynamic shifted and Kim and Khloé started vibing, I became the target," revealed the Poosh founder in an episode of The Kardashians from May 2023. "Let's face it, Kim can never match my sense of humor. We have each other's backs no matter what, but it's just a different kind of bond."

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2023

During an episode of The Kardashians in June 2023, Kourtney expressed her disappointment with Kim's behavior at her wedding to Barker. Kourtney revealed that while everyone else seemed to be enjoying themselves, Kim failed to show any enthusiasm or support for the occasion. Kourtney also mentioned that Kim never asked for her opinion or permission to be inspired by the wedding for any future projects.

"I believe there is a subconscious element at play here. My sister takes everything I had in that space and claims it as her own without even realizing it. To her, it's just about the money, but for me, it signifies something deeper. It's a reminder that I was once there and I wasn't happy. Everyone around me noticed a change in her behavior and expressed concern that she was spiraling out of control."