Does Khloé Kardashian Owe Jordyn Woods An Apology?

This morning, in the least shocking news of all time, Tristan Thompson confirmed that he did in fact cheat on Khloé Kardashian and has thus fathered a child with personal trainer Maralee Nichols. Posting a statement on Instagram, the basketball player said that upon the result of a paternity test, he will ‘take full responsibility’ and looks forward to ‘amicably raising’ his son with Maralee.

‘Khloé, you don’t deserve this,’ Tristan wrote in another post. ‘You don’t deserve the heartache and humiliation I have caused you. You don’t deserve the way I have treated you over the years. My actions certainly have not lined up with the way I view you. I have the utmost respect and love for you. Regardless of what you may think.’

Naturally, everyone is raising eyebrows and rolling eyes at his apology. Memes are rolling in, insensitively trolling Khloé for ever taking him back in the first place. It’s the same narrative that comes around often with Khloé and Tristan, people jumping to blame her for forgiving him. But there is also a more interesting one developing: the idea that Khloé should apologise to Jordyn Woods.

You’ll likely remember, Jordyn Woods was the original Maralee Nichols way back in 2019 – although, he didn’t get her pregnant. When rumours emerged that Tristan had cheated with Jordyn – a close family friend to the Kardashians and Kylie Jenner’s best at the time - it caused absolute chaos. Jordyn admitted that Tristan kissed her on the lips at an after party, appearing on Red Table Talk to clear up salacious rumours and explain why she didn’t tell Khloé earlier.

Explaining that she just wanted to pretend it never happened, she told Jada Pinkett-Smith ‘I just knew how much turmoil was going on that I was like, “Let me not just throw more fuel on the fire”. I know I was trying to protect Khloé's heart… I'm not home-wrecker. I would never try to hurt someone's home, especially someone that I love and someone who has a beautiful daughter. I never was trying to steal someone's man. I don't need your situation. I really just hurt so many more people by not telling the truth.’

Jordyn went on to say that she wasn’t able to eat for days after the rumours were reported, that she was subject to vile trolling about her father’s death (which occurred in 2017) and that neither her nor her family could leave the house out of safety concerns.

Khloé however, did not take the appearance kindly, tweeting the following:

Now, many are demanding Khloé apologise to Jordyn. Why? Well, their argument is that Khloé chose to forgive Tristan – who went on to prove himself as a serial cheater – but when it came to Jordyn, she markedly did not forgive her, instead tweeting publicly to call Jordyn a liar and homewrecker… all for a kiss Jordyn didn’t even initiate (according to Jordyn, Tristan has never publicly spoke about this incident.) While many may understand Khloé forgiving Tristan as the father of her child, some question why that same courtesy wasn’t also extended to Jordyn who had been a part of the family for much longer (not only as Kylie’s best friend since childhood, but a close friend to the entire family - appearing on many seasons of Keeping Up With The Kardashians.)

Of course, there’s room for empathy on either side here. You can choose to uplift Jordyn and condemn those who trolled her, while also sharing sympathy for the heartbreak Khloé will undoubtedly be experiencing. Because, while Khloé may’ve been wrong to publicly drag Jordyn, she’s not responsible for every horrific tweet sent Jordyn’s way. In fact, we should be holding accountable the very people who thought that reaction was appropriate for a celebrity cheating scandal they knew little facts about.

It’s easy to dehumanise celebrities. Someone makes a romantic decision you deem wrong, either to cheat or to take back a cheater, and suddenly they’re no longer deserving of doubt, of hearing them out or just basic respect. But actually, these are real people’s lives being harmed by gigantic social media reactions to their pain.

In reality, we shouldn’t really be asking whether Khloé should apologise publicly to Jordyn – we should be talking about how the actions of one selfish man have destroyed the reputations of two women once beloved in celebrity culture. Tristan’s decision to cheat should reflect badly on no one but himself, he’s the one with the family he’s destroying.

Read More:

Stop Telling Women 'Once A Cheater, Always A Cheater'

All Of The Ways The Kardashians Are Axing Jordyn Woods From The Family

The Case Of Jordyn Woods And The Public Apology Roll Neck