Kim Kardashian West Shows a Rare Glimpse of Her Dad’s Side of the Family In New Instagram Post
Kim Kardashian West introduced us to her mother’s side of the family more than 10 years ago. They star on a hit show with her and are often featured on her social media. But there’s a big cloud of mystery surrounding her late father Robert Kardashian’s side of the family.
Over the years, we’ve rarely — if ever — heard her talk about those relatives and what her relationship with them is like. However, that changed during the week of April 5 when Kardashian West shared a photo on Instagram that features some of those family members.
Kim Kardashian West’s Instagram photo
On Wednesday, April 8, Kardashian West took to Instagram and shared a post about her father’s brother, Tom, in honor of his 80th birthday. The post also included several photos that feature her dad, who died in 2003 from esophageal cancer, and apparent other relatives.
Kardashian West wrote in the caption that she and her sisters had the best relationship with him when they were growing up. She apparently doesn’t show her uncle off more because he is so private and likes to live a quiet life.
“Happy 80th Birthday to my Uncle! My dads brother, Tom,” she began. “I don’t usually post because I know you like privacy but I had to shout so loud a big HAPPY BIRTHDAY. Uncle Tommy I love you so much and am so proud of our family and everything you have taught us! We have the best memories and I can’t wait to celebrate with you when we can all be together again 🎂 🎈” concluded the mom-of-four, who is practicing social distancing amid the coronavirus pandemic.
What we know about that side of the family
Robert and Tom Kardashian also have a sister, Barbara. They were born to Armenian-American parents Helen and Arthur Kardashian and grew up in California.
Robert went on to become a high-profile attorney who helped O.J. Simpson get off in the “trial of the century” while Barbara and Tom led quieter lives. It’s unclear what Barbara did for work, but TMZ reports that Tom was a physician who once came to Brandy’s defense when she went into distress on a plane.
In May 2008, their mother died at the age of 90. Following the news, Kardashian West posted a sweet tribute to Helen, who she called Nana, on her now-defunct website.
“She was your typical Armenian grandmother: always cooking the best Armenian meals, our favorite which was this Armenian breakfast called ‘beeshe!’” she wrote (via People).
Arthur passed on a few years later, in 2012, at 95.
Kim Kardashian West has honored her Armenian roots
Although we don’t hear her talk about those family members very often, Kardashian West is very in tune with her heritage. She and her family visited Armenia in 2015 and got to learn more about their history.
In 2019, she returned to the country along with her sister Kourtney Kardashian, and their kids. While there, she and her youngest three children — Saint, Chicago, and Psalm — were baptized in a traditional Armenian ceremony.
“Thank you Armenia for hosting my family and I in such a memorable trip,” the KKW Beauty star captioned a photo from the ceremony. “So blessed to have been baptized along with my babies at Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin, Armenia’s main cathedral which is sometimes referred to as the Vatican of the Armenian Apostolic Church. This church was built in 303 AD.”
Her eldest daughter, North, was baptized in 2015 in Jerusalem.
“It was such a beautiful experience for my family to have North baptized in Jerusalem,” Kardashian West told People at the time. “Kanye [West] and I are so thankful.”
