Kim Kardashian has been more open about her life than arguably any celebrity out there. She's shared her darkest moments with the world, and while some will criticize her for presenting those moments in a very curated manner, it's hard to argue it doesn't feel more authentic than canned statements by PR professionals.
It seems like Kim plans to continue doing that in The Kardashians, the family's latest reality TV venture on Hulu. Episode 1 sees Kim having to deal with a pretty horrifying moment in parenting. Her then 5-year-old son, Saint, shows her his iPad, which he's playing Roblox on. An ad pops up showing Kim's classic ugly-crying face.
Kim takes a closer look and discovers the ad is insinuating that there's a second or unseen part to her 2003 sex tape with Ray J that's available if you click. Saint was too young and unaware to understand what the ad was alluding to, but it brought Kim face-to-face with the fact that she'll have to talk to her kids about the uncomfortable situation one day.
Saint shows Kim the startling ad during a family barbecue. Kim keeps her cool in the moment, but later on as she packs to head to New York City for her Saturday Night Live hosting gig, she tells her mom and sisters. They stand by and support Kim as she calls her attorney, Marty Singer.
"I'll sue for nominal damages. The message is more important than the dollars, at this point," Kim tells the attorney.
"I don't want it to be copied. I have four [expletive] kids. I can't go through this again."
"This was like 20 years ago. I'm not going to go through this again," Kim continues.
"I know the right attorneys this time. I know exactly what to do this time … I have all the time, all the money, and all of the resources to burn them all to the [expletive] ground."
The scene may seem like a rich-woman tantrum to some, but for Kardashian fans it's a pretty illuminating, full-circle moment. Kim has dealt with people attributing her fame to this tape for her entire career, no matter what she's achieved since. With all her money and power and influence, she cannot escape this portion of her past that people feel defines her. Yet she shows the determination to do so and asserts her ability to take control of the situation and defend herself in a way she couldn't previously.
Kim is also seen calling ex-husband Kanye West and crying over the situation.
"I almost died when Saint thought it was funny," she tells him, worrying how much worse it could have been if Saint were "a little bit older and old enough to read."
Kim has previously addressed the reality that she'll have to tell her kids about the tape. In conversation with Andy Cohen, Kim said, "I think I'm just gonna be super honest and real with them. That's all you can really be."
In this situation, Kanye was supportive and comforted Kim. "Kanye was like, listen you have the power, nothing will cancel you," she said.
"Stop worrying about the public perception. You know who you are."
In a confessional later in the episode, Kim speaks to her and Kanye's new normal.
"We're just trying to figure it out — how to be good parents to our kids together, of how to be good friends to each other. Ultimate goal, no matter what, is just happiness and following that, whatever that looks like."
