It’s not uncommon to see one half of a formerly married couple change their name in the aftermath of a divorce. And although Kim Kardashian and Kanye West are anything but the common couple, it appears one of them will be making a change — but it’s not Kim!
While Kanye West has apparently applied to legally change his name from Kanye Omari West to just Ye, Kim Kardashian is choosing to retain West as her legal last name, according to TMZ. When Kimye got married six years ago, she took the traditional route in adding her new husband’s last name to her own. What was less common amongst celebrities was that she also added West to her professional persona on social media sites and many of her projects and products, including KKW Beauty.
So why is Kim Kardashian keeping Kanye West’s name, even while he himself is nixing it? Kim reportedly feels it's very important to keep the same last name shared by the couple’s four children — North, Saint, Chicago and Psalm — noting that there are no plans to change their names. (We can all agree that North would have the most to lose in such a circumstance, right? Leave that perfect name alone!)
This change in direction isn’t the most shocking thing the rapper’s ever done, by a wide stretch, as Kanye West has already been casually known as Ye for years. Plus, Kim Kardashian’s reasoning that she wants to keep the same last name as her kids makes complete sense as well. So any nomenclature alterations presumably won’t be a drastic change for either half of the couple, who has recently been seen spending more time together, as they are reportedly back on friendly terms after a tumultuous end to the marriage.
In July, Kim Kardashian revealed that her beauty line KKW Beauty would be temporarily shut down in August, and fans wondered then if the reality star was dropping the W from the name amid the couple’s split. It turned out, however, that the rebranding had been in the works for a while, even with contributions from Kanye West. It was emphasized at that time also that Kim Kardashian was not dropping the West from her social media accounts. Looks like those intentions are still intact.
Collaborations between the couple are still ongoing, at least where fashion is concerned. While fans have been excited that Kim Kardashian has forgone her athleisure wear for more form-fitting dresses amid her split from Kanye West, she has coordinated her outfit with her soon-to-be-ex-husband for both of his listening parties for the upcoming album Donda. In the first listening party, both of which were held in Atlanta, Kim wore a zippered red leather bodysuit to match his all-red ensemble, and the second event saw them going incognito in head-to-toe black.
A third listening party for Donda — Ye’s tenth studio album, named after his late mother — is scheduled for August 26 in Chicago, and will come complete with a replica of Kanye West’s childhood home constructed at Soldier Field. The album release date has been pushed back twice, but is now scheduled to be released on Friday, August 27. But will his current name be on the cover, or just Ye?
You can watch Kim Kardashian West and Ye’s whole relationship evolution, with all of Keeping Up With the Kardashians streaming on Hulu. And keep up with all of the upcoming premieres with our 2021 Fall TV schedule!
