Kim Kardashian reveals brain aneurysm diagnosis and points to stress from divorce with Kanye West

23 October 2025

Hulu; George Pimentel/Getty

Kim Kardashian has disclosed that during a recent MRI scan doctors discovered a “little aneurysm” in her brain, a condition they attributed to prolonged stress particularly related to her divorce from Kanye West and their ongoing co-parenting situation.

The revelation came in a preview clip for Season 7 of the family reality series The Kardashians, where a visibly emotional Kardashian shared footage of herself in an MRI machine followed by the moment she told her older sister, “There was a little aneurysm.” Her sister’s shocked response “Whoa!” was captured on-screen. Kardashian then recounted how the doctor said the cause was simply, “just stress.”

Despite the alarming language, medical professionals emphasise that many aneurysms remain small and unruptured and may never cause symptoms but the admission nevertheless marked a rare moment of vulnerability from someone who usually projects strength and control. According to the Mayo Clinic, a brain aneurysm is a bulge in a blood vessel in the brain, and while many are benign, a ruptured aneurysm can lead to a dangerous haemorrhagic stroke.

Kardashian linked the diagnosis to multiple stress-related developments in her life: she shared that her psoriasis, which she had not experienced since her 2021 divorce, had returned amid what she described as a period of feeling “pretty tested.” She said: “I felt more stressed, probably just because I had to super, super protect what I had to protect.”

Her comments also reflect the complex dynamics of her co-parenting arrangement with Kanye West, with whom she has four children: North, 12; Saint, 9; Chicago, 7; and Psalm, 6. The clip suggests that the burden of shielding her children from public scrutiny and managing ongoing parental conflicts has weighed heavily on her.

Adding depth to her narrative, Kardashian said the moment marked the first time she felt she did not carry the personal responsibility to “help” her ex-husband a shift in her mindset from past patterns of putting his needs before her own. She described this change as bittersweet: “It is so f------ sad.”

What makes this disclosure significant is its timing and context. Season 7 of the series premieres while Kardashian is navigating both health concerns and a major litigation scene in public life, and the segment frames her medical news not as a headline but as part of a broader personal journey one marked by healing, parenting and identity beyond celebrity.

From a celebrity-culture vantage point the episode is compelling. Kardashian has long positioned herself as a locus of empowerment, entrepreneurship and reinvention. This moment disrupts the usual narrative of control and success, bringing into focus vulnerability, mental-physical health and the cost of public life. Her openness about a serious medical condition especially one tied to emotional strain adds a layer of relatability to an otherwise hyper-visible persona.

The link she draws between her divorce and her health raises broader questions about how life stressors impact public figures and the role of fame in amplifying private hardships. In a media ecosystem where appearances are curated, Kardashian’s admission may also signal a shift in celebrity health-disclosure norms particularly for women who previously maintained polished public images.

That said, Kardashian’s disclosure should be viewed through the lens of caution. While the aneurysm may not require immediate intervention, the acknowledgment invites conversations about monitoring, treatment and lifestyle adjustments. It also underscores how even individuals with resources and support are not immune to health risks.

“My job as a mom is to … make sure that when behavior is happening I’m protecting them,” she said. According to the preview clip she described her role as one of defence and stability for her children, suggesting the diagnosis adds urgency to her priority of safeguarding their wellbeing.

Ultimately, this moment may expand how audiences understand Kardashian: beyond mogul and media star, to human being managing multiple overlapping pressures, medical, familial, professional and psychological. Whether she chooses to publicise further treatment or keep details private, the acknowledgment alone marks a departure from her carefully controlled image.