‘The Kardashians’

Kim Kardashian is fully embracing her newest role as “momager” in the latest episode of The Kardashians. Not only is she supporting her daughter North West ahead of her now-viral Hollywood Bowl performance, but she’s also keeping the peace with her ex-husband Kanye “Ye” West, who makes a surprising first appearance in the family’s Hulu reality series.

In the episode, titled “I Just Can’t Wait to Be King,” Kardashian debates whether she should allow North, then 10, to accept an offer to perform at the Hollywood Bowl for the 30th anniversary of Disney’s The Lion King. Ultimately, the Skims founder gives into her eldest daughter’s dreams — and she knows very well what the public will think, noting that North is a “rapper” like her dad and not a “singer.”

“I already know what’s coming — the ’she’s not Whitney Houston.’ Duh. I know she got the job because of her parents,” Kardashian says. “North is the moment. They want to see North West on a TikTok, on a this, on an anything, because she’s a personality, a performer. And if anyone wants to hate on a child that is having the time of their lives, fuck you.”

What’s more shocking than North snagging such a big role with little musical theatre experience, however, is her dad Kanye’s brief appearance in the episode, marking the first time he’s been on reality television since the final season of E!’s Keeping up with the Kardashians back in 2021.

“Hey, what’s up guys?” Kanye says as he enters North’s dressing room.

Kardashian, who filed for divorce from the controversial rapper in 2021, addresses her ex’s shocking cameo in her confessional.

“[North’s] dad has been involved,” she tells the cameras. “And he came to the rehearsal and he’s like, ‘Can we change the graphics to The Lion King.’ I’m like, ‘Of course. Of course.’ I just look at them like, ‘It will be a better production.’”

Photo: Hulu
The businesswoman adds, “Kanye and I want the best for the kids and so anytime we’re here supporting our child, it’s always good vibes.”

The former couple shares a short exchange following North’s performance when Kanye asks Kardashian for her thoughts. “I was just crying from the side. I don’t know,” the “proud” mom says, before instructing her other kids to go with their father.

Kanye’s reemergence in The Kardashians universe is coming at an interesting time for the rapper, who turned heads on the Grammy’s red carpet earlier this month when his wife Bianca Censori took off a fur coat to reveal a completely sheer dress with nothing underneath. He then went on a three-day social media tirade with racist, antisemitic, misogynistic remarks that ultimately got his X (formerly known as Twitter) account deactivated by Elon Musk.

New episodes of The Kardashians drop on Wednesdays at 9 p.m. PT and Thursdays at midnight ET on Hulu.