Khloé Kardashian’s relationship with Lamar Odom was marked by intense devotion on her side and devastating betrayal on his. A new Netflix documentary, Untold: The Death & Life of Lamar Odom, reveals the shocking circumstances surrounding his infidelity and substance abuse, painting a grim picture of their ill-fated marriage.
A Whirlwind Romance Followed by Hidden Chaos
Kardashian and Odom’s relationship moved at breakneck speed: engaged after just one month of dating, they married in 2009. However, Odom concealed his drug addiction until after the wedding. The documentary exposes how his substance abuse and numerous affairs became central stressors in their doomed romance.
The manner in which Kardashian discovered Odom’s cheating is particularly jarring. According to Odom, he was heavily intoxicated when a woman he was with took his phone and contacted Kardashian directly. “One night I [was] going to Big Bear, California, and I’m getting high out of my f—ing mind,” Odom admits. “The girl that I was with at the time, she must have been so blown back by it that she must have took my phone and contacted my wife.”
The Call That Changed Everything
Kardashian recalls receiving a blunt, brutal phone call from Odom’s mistress: “Hi, I’ve been f—ing your husband. He is so f—ed up, and he just keeps wanting money and drugs, and I gotta get off this ride. So will you come and pick him up?”
She admits she had suspicions but lacked concrete evidence until that moment. This event highlights a pattern: Odom’s addiction drove his behavior, while Kardashian initially concealed it from public view, likely fearing backlash.
Enabling Addiction and a Cycle of Betrayal
Kardashian has since admitted she enabled Odom’s addiction, fearing the consequences of exposure. “When I really discovered that there was a problem, he was like, ‘You cannot tell anyone, I’ll lose it all. And if I lose it, where are we going to live?’” she said in the documentary. She was 24 at the time, still navigating her own life while financially supporting Odom’s addiction.
Despite filing for divorce in 2013, Kardashian temporarily withdrew the petition after Odom’s near-fatal overdose in 2015. Even then, her support was exploited. Kardashian discovered him using crack cocaine again, leading to a physical altercation.
A Final Breaking Point
“He was in his bedroom, sitting on the edge of the bed, and smoking crack. I just punched him in his face,” Kardashian recalled. “I just put my life on hold to f***ing take care of you. He was better than I knew. He was playing me so I can continue this lifestyle for him. I said, ‘By Monday, you need [to be] out of this house. I’m done. I’m not paying for a thing, and I never want to speak to you again.’” The divorce was finalized in December 2016.
The story is a stark illustration of how addiction can unravel even the most promising relationships, and the emotional toll it takes on those involved. Kardashian’s experience underscores the dangers of enabling destructive behavior, even when motivated by love.
