Kim Kardashian-Kanye West separation: A timeline of their relationship

Kim Kardashian West filed for divorce on Friday (February 19, 2021) from Kanye West after 6 1/2 years of marriage. The romance of reality TV star-turned global-phenomenon and rapper Kanye West is ending? They’ve been married for ages, friends since before that. They have 4 kids together. But in the early days of 2021, it seems this particular song is screeching to an end. Here’s a look at their story – including some, ahem, headshaking moments that got them here.

Kim and Kanye met in 2003, on the sets of a Bandy music video. While Kanye was recording ‘Talk About Our Love’ with the songstress, Kim was friends with her. Something seemed to click – they stayed in touch. (We’ve got to believe this wasn’t the start of anything, because Kim went on to marry Chris Humphries. Remember him? Yeah, that’s the guy she was hitched to for all of 72 days in 2010.)

In 2012, a decent 2 years after THAT divorce, Kanye and Kim went public with their relationship. Kanye dropped the song ‘Cold’ with lyrics that were clearly about her. Kanye also attended many Kardashian family events.

Eight months into her pregnancy, the fashionista and the rapper attended the MET Gala together. 2013 would also be the year her divorce to Humphry would come through and she’d get engaged. But first, North West was born, in June 2013.

In 2014, the couple made history as the first biracial duo to be featured on the cover of ‘Vogue’. They also got married – in a lavish ceremony full of events across Europe. A photo of them kissing against a backdrop of flowers became the most-liked Instagram photo of that year.

A year later they were expecting their second child – an announcement made on the ‘Keeping Up with the Kardashians’ show. And when in 2016 rumors of trouble in paradise began to mount, Kim released a video denying it. "I've definitely had my fair share of, like, dramatic relationships. Honestly, this is like the most calm and it's like, nope, we're still together," she said, according to Us Weekly. "We're happy. There's just nothing to really report on."

Kim, who has a huge family and always wanted many children, was told after the birth of Saint West, that it would be dangerous for her to get pregnant again. She had been diagnosed with a condition called placenta accreta. The couple thus hired a surrogate for their third baby, Chicago.

The couple continued to bat down vociferously all insinuations that something was wrong, even renewing their vows come 2019 in a private ceremony. This was after their fourth child, Psalm, was born.

Then came 2020 – the year that turned everything upside down. No, it wasn’t COVID. It was just Kanye, who decided to try running for the office of the US President. He announced in on July 4 on Twitter, writing: "We must now realize the promise of America by trusting God, unifying our vision and building our future. I am running for president of the United States."

And he went on, during his presidential campaign to talk about how Kim had almost gotten an abortion. Airing private news in public like that apparently chilled things further between the star couple and led to harsh words and increasing time apart. (The Presidential bid obviously failed too.)

Now, as 2021 rolls out and a hope for change pervades each conversation, there is speculation and sources being quoted that this rift between Kanye and Kim cannot be mended. That this is the end for Kimye. Fact or fiction? Stay tuned to keep up with this Kardashian.