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The Kardashians have long sold the image of a glamorous, united front: sisters who stand together through every scandal, heartbreak, and triumph. But beneath the gloss, Kourtney Kardashian and Kim Kardashian’s rivalry has become one of the most explosive storylines in reality TV history. Their battles have revealed not only cracks in sisterhood but also the brutal reality of fame—that even family can become competitors when the spotlight is the prize.

From the earliest seasons of Keeping Up With the Kardashians, tensions between Kim and Kourtney were evident. Kim, ever ambitious, often took charge of business opportunities, while Kourtney preferred a more laid-back approach. But as the family empire grew, so did the resentments. Kourtney resented being painted as lazy, while Kim criticized her older sister for lacking drive. Their bickering became a staple of the show, but viewers could sense the hostility was more than scripted drama.

The rivalry hit its peak in 2020, during season 18 of Keeping Up. In a shocking moment, Kim and Kourtney engaged in a violent physical fight on camera, complete with slaps, punches, and walls smeared with makeup. Fans were stunned. For years, the Kardashians had thrived on playful drama, but this was raw, unfiltered aggression. The illusion of perfect sisterhood was shattered.

What fueled this intensity? At its core, it was about identity. Kim had reinvented herself as the family’s mogul, juggling law studies, Skims, and activism. Kourtney, meanwhile, sought authenticity, prioritizing motherhood and wellness over constant branding. She grew tired of the cameras and felt trapped in the family’s fame machine. Kim saw this as selfish, arguing that the show’s success depended on everyone’s participation. Their fight symbolized a larger clash: the desire to escape the Kardashian circus versus the need to maintain the empire.

Outside the show, their rivalry bled into business. Kim’s Skims became a billion-dollar shapewear juggernaut, while Kourtney launched Poosh, a lifestyle brand often mocked as a weaker Goop imitation. Kim’s success only highlighted Kourtney’s struggle to carve out a distinct identity beyond “the eldest Kardashian.” Critics claimed Kourtney lacked ambition, while her fans argued she was the only one brave enough to step away from the toxicity of endless fame.

Family loyalty further complicated things. Kris Jenner, the family matriarch, often sided with Kim, recognizing her as the key moneymaker. This fueled Kourtney’s resentment, deepening her sense of being undervalued. Meanwhile, Khloé was caught in the middle, forced to mediate but often leaning toward Kim. The fractures became impossible to ignore.

Yet, paradoxically, their rivalry only boosted ratings and headlines. The very fight that exposed their division also reminded the world why the Kardashians remain captivating: their drama, no matter how ugly, is always public. Fans couldn’t look away from the spectacle of two billionaire sisters literally tearing into each other.

Over time, Kourtney began to pull back, appearing less frequently on the show and focusing on her personal life with Travis Barker. Kim, on the other hand, leaned harder into her empire. The divergence of their paths suggests the rivalry is less about hatred and more about fundamentally different visions of life. One craves empire; the other craves escape.

The Kourtney-Kim feud is a reminder that fame magnifies everything: egos, ambitions, and resentments. In the Kardashian world, even sisterhood is not immune to the pressures of money and spotlight. For fans, the rivalry is a guilty pleasure. For the sisters, it’s a painful reminder that family ties can fray under the weight of global fame.