Kim Kardashian discloses take on Taylor Swift feud, North West backlash and Kanye drama

Kim Kardashian chose a carefully timed moment to address the storm of speculation surrounding her personal life, using sister Khloé Kardashian’s podcast to confront long-running feuds, parenting backlash and her evolving relationship with ex-husband Kanye West.

Appearing on the latest episode of Khloe in Wonderland, the 45-year-old mogul delivered a rare, wide-ranging conversation that touched on everything from pop culture grudges to co-parenting diplomacy and extreme beauty treatments.

The most anticipated moment came when the conversation drifted toward Kim’s infamous feud with Taylor Swift, a saga dating back to 2016 after Kanye West released Famous and Kim leaked edited phone recordings that appeared to undermine Swift’s account.

The fallout ignited years of fan outrage, snake emojis and ultimately became fuel for Swift’s Reputation era.

The tension resurfaced in 2023 when Swift, named TIME’s Person of the Year, accused Kim of having "took her down psychologically" and forcing her into hiding.

With the history looming, Khloé finally asked the question many expected. "Do you think people would be surprised you listen to Taylor Swift?" Kim replied calmly, "I think I’ve said it." Khloé pushed back, saying, "I think people would be surprised." Kim then conceded, "Yeah, it’s just… I have some of her older songs in my playlist," adding, "I’ve always thought she’s a super talented, great artist."

The topic was quickly dropped as Khloé redirected the conversation. "So… do you like country music?" Kim responded enthusiastically, "I love country music! I’ll always be a Shania Twain girl. I love Carrie Underwood. And Lee Ann Rimes - obsessed."

The discussion then shifted to Kim’s role as a mother, particularly to her eldest daughter North West, 12, who has drawn online criticism for her bold fashion, bright blue hair, visible piercings, diamond grill and luxury lifestyle glimpses on social media.

Questions have even surfaced over whether North’s piercings are real, after she revealed a dermal piercing on her middle finger last August.

Kim made it clear that public perception does not reflect reality. "I try not to pay attention to it, but I think that no one knows unless they're in my shoes of what I'm dealing with and how we have to manage certain things from the outside world or even close in our life that we have to go through together," she said.

She addressed the assumption that she parents without boundaries. "So, I think like the one misconception that people might have is like, "Oh, she's trying to be her bestie and lets her get away with a lot.""

Kim shut that down directly. "Like, no. North actually has a lot of rules. The one area is I do let her express herself and I do let her do that. I love her for that and she would do it, you know, regardless."

Kim explained that North’s bold aesthetic has always been part of who she is. "It's funny like people are like, "Oh, this blue hair, all of this all of a sudden or like her fake piercings that she puts up or her, you know, I have pictures of her when we're in first grade, pre-K, where she'd come with like a fake septum ring and she has her green braids and she has pink braids and but she's always loved the colored braids in her hair since she was little." She added, "Like she really is who she is and always has been that girl unapologetically and so like I nurture her!"

Khloé then observed that Kim and Kanye, who finalized their divorce in 2022, appear to be rebuilding a working relationship thanks to North’s growing interest in music production. The former couple share daughters North and Chicago, eight, and sons Saint, nine, and Psalm, six. "You guys are in a much better place," Khloé noted.

Kim agreed, emphasizing empathy and long-term family bonds. "I'm a really empathetic person. I mean, at the end of the day, we're always family. I always look at it that way, no matter what's going on." She acknowledged the complexities of co-parenting, saying, "There are times when I have to be super protective and there are times when, you know, at any moment, I would love that relationship. And I've always talked about that."

She explained that North’s connection with Kanye centers on creativity. "The music side and the producing isn't my thing. And that's her bonding thing with her dad." Kim added that communication remains essential. "But even just like coming up with stuff, we have to communicate about how North moves through that world and all these opportunities that come her way and having to filter that and like respecting his opinion on the things that go on with his kids is really important."

Kim concluded the topic by stressing stability for their children. "So yeah, I think he's so good at doing that. I think it's important for the kids. You just kind of have to put all the other stuff aside."

The conversation ended on a lighter note as Kim revealed her commitment to beauty experimentation, admitting she uses stem cell injections on her scalp to promote hair growth. "I’ll do like the stem cell injections in my scalp," she said. "Like everything to make sure that it’s as healthy as possible." Khloé teased, "But you just love a beauty treatment." Kim replied, "I love to experiment."

When asked to choose one beauty treatment forever, Kim did not hesitate. "I mean Botox probably, or just like a really good facial."