Kim Kardashian Details Household Lockdown Strategy to Shield Children From Ye Headlines
Kim Kardashian implements a strict household lockdown protocol to protect her four children from negative public attention surrounding her ex-husband, Ye, formerly known as Kanye West, or when the rapper experiences mental health episodes.
Details of the protective measures appear in Jonathan Van Meter’s new book, Citizen Kim: The Woman Who Created the Future. In the publication, Kardashian explains that she shelters North, 13; Saint, 10; Chicago, 8; and Psalm, 7, by effectively cutting off their access to unfiltered media and current events.
“My whole household knows what a ‘lockdown’ means if I text it. Like, ‘We’re on lockdown.’ No TVs, just movies,” Kardashian explains on page 308 of the book. “No radio, just plug in a phone for music in the car. Not even, like, Sirius XM, because they talk about current events in real time. It’s like, ‘They don’t have to be a party to this.'”
While Kardashian notes that their co-parenting dynamic has stabilized and grown smoother by 2026, she admits in earlier pages of the book that she maintains ongoing concerns for the rapper, who has faced significant backlash and professional consequences for antisemitic hate speech and erratic public behavior. Ye, who has spoken openly about his mental health struggles, purchased an advertisement in the Wall Street Journal in January to apologize for and explain his past actions.
“Oh, I worry about him all day. All the time,” Kardashian shares in the text. “That’s the father of my kids. I’ll never not worry about him. And that’s a big burden of having kids with someone who you don’t necessarily get along with. My kids would never know that.”
Despite past friction—including their high-profile romance that began in 2012, a 2014 Italian wedding, a divorce filing in February 2021, and a finalized settlement in November 2022—Kardashian maintains that their current communication remains relatively smooth, aided in part by keeping direct contact limited. She also actively encourages her children to spend time with members of Ye’s family, maintaining an open-door policy for visits, dinners, and outings.
“I’m really close with his family. I welcome anyone,” she says. “I tell them all, open-door policy. Anytime you’re in town, come for dinner with us, see the kids as much as you want, take them out, come over and hang out. That’s their family. So I encourage the relationship with their dad so much.”
Beyond domestic routines, the former couple has found common ground in navigating their eldest daughter North West’s emerging artistic pursuits. In an October interview with The Sunday Times, Kardashian noted that she and Ye communicate effectively regarding North’s career paths, ensuring both parents approve of her professional projects and remain aligned.
