Kim Kardashian’s latest health scare landed on an especially sensitive subject for her family.
In the newly released Season 8 trailer for The Kardashians, Kardashian reveals that she has esophagitis, an inflammation of the tissue lining the esophagus. Another scene shows her in a hospital gown as someone off camera asks whether her condition is connected to what killed her father, Robert Kardashian.
Robert died of esophageal cancer in 2003 at age 59, only about eight weeks after he was diagnosed. The comparison visibly affects the family in the trailer, with Kris Jenner later saying that thinking about the situation makes her want to cry.
Esophagitis and esophageal cancer are not the same condition, and nothing released in the trailer establishes that Kardashian has cancer, Barrett’s esophagus or another precancerous condition.
Kim Reveals the Diagnosis Before the Trailer Cuts to a Medical Setting
Kardashian first names the condition while sitting with members of her hair and makeup team. “I have something called esophagitis,” she says.
The trailer later shows Kardashian in a hospital gown and bed. In another moment, someone asks her, “Didn’t your father, isn’t that what he died of?” Kardashian answers, “Yeah.” Kris Jenner is then shown reacting emotionally. “I can’t,” she says. “It makes me want to cry.”
Entertainment Weekly similarly reported that the preview reveals the diagnosis without providing the medical details of Kardashian’s individual case. Season 8 of The Kardashians premieres October 8th on Hulu.
Esophagitis Is Not the Cancer That Killed Robert Kardashian
Esophagitis is inflammation and irritation of the tissue lining the esophagus, the muscular tube that carries food and liquid from the mouth to the stomach.
According to the Mayo Clinic, possible causes include stomach acid repeatedly backing up into the esophagus, certain medications, infections and allergic conditions. Symptoms can include painful or difficult swallowing, heartburn and chest pain. Robert Kardashian had a different diagnosis, esophageal cancer.
There can be connections between certain chronic esophageal conditions and cancer risk, but those connections depend on the underlying cause and diagnosis. Long-term acid reflux, for example, can contribute to a condition called Barrett’s esophagus in some patients, and Barrett’s esophagus is associated with an increased risk of esophageal cancer.
Robert’s illness progressed rapidly. The Los Angeles Times reported after his September 30th, 2003 death that he had been diagnosed with cancer of the esophagus approximately eight weeks earlier.
The Family Created an Esophageal Health Center in Robert’s Name
So proud to announce the Robert G Kardashian center for esophageal health being launched at UCLA. My wish is that other families can have more information and we can also focus on health and prevention ✨ pic.twitter.com/lHvXONHdao
— Kim Kardashian (@KimKardashian) April 17, 2019
Robert’s death has shaped more than the family’s conversations about health. In 2019, the Kardashian family partnered with UCLA Health to establish the Robert G. Kardashian Center for Esophageal Health in his memory. The multidisciplinary center brings together specialists in gastroenterology, surgery, oncology, radiology, pathology and other fields to treat esophageal disorders while supporting research and education.
“So proud to announce the Robert G Kardashian center for esophageal health being launched at UCLA,” Kim wrote when the center was established. “My wish is that other families can have more information and we can also focus on health and prevention.”
UCLA Health marked the center’s fifth anniversary in April 2024 with Kim, Kourtney and Khloé Kardashian in attendance. At the event, Kim recalled that longtime family friend Dr. Eric Esrailian was among the first people the family contacted when they began discussing a meaningful way to honor Robert. UCLA said the center had grown into a collaborative program involving physicians and researchers working across multiple esophageal conditions.
Kim also spoke about referring friends to the center and hearing from people who believed the care they received there had changed or saved their lives.
The Health Scare Is One of Several Stories Teased for Season 8
The trailer also previews shifting dynamics among the sisters, Kris worrying about changes within the family and Kendall Jenner addressing longstanding speculation involving her friendship with Cara Delevingne.
Hulu describes the season as focusing on “love, reinvention, and what comes next,” with the family balancing their businesses against new relationships, independence and unresolved personal issues.