It’s easy to look at Kim Kardashian and Kourtney Kardashian and think you’re seeing a classic sibling rivalry played out for the cameras. You know the drill. They fight, they scream, someone gets called "the least exciting to look at," and then they show up to a Met Gala together. But honestly? If you’ve been paying attention lately, there is something much weirder and more interesting happening beneath the surface. It isn’t just about who stole whose "wedding vibe" anymore.
People love a good feud. We’ve seen them trade insults that would end most friendships for years. Yet, here we are in 2026, and the dynamic has shifted into this strange, professional truce that feels more like a business merger than a sisterhood.
The Dolce & Gabbana Fallout Was Never About Clothes
When the whole "Dolce Vita" drama exploded, everyone focused on the lace and the veils. Kourtney felt like Kim stripped the soul out of her Italian wedding by turning the aesthetic into a business deal just months later. Kim, ever the strategist, saw it as a massive career milestone that Kourtney was "gatekeeping."
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But it was actually about identity.
Kourtney has spent the last few years trying to detach herself from the "Kardashian Machine." She wants to be the wellness-obsessed, Blink-182-adjacent, Poosh-running individual. Then Kim comes along and—in Kourtney’s eyes—monetizes the one thing Kourtney felt was truly hers. It’s the classic older sister vs. middle sister power struggle, just with billion-dollar contracts involved.
The "Not Kourtney" Group Chat
Remember the "Not Kourtney" group chat? That wasn't just a throwaway line for the show. It revealed the deep isolation Kourtney felt from her siblings. Kim admitted to having a separate chat where the family discussed Kourtney’s "attitude." It sounds like something from a high school cafeteria. But for women in their 40s? It’s brutal.
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Why They Still Work Together (Literally)
Despite the "witch" comments and the tears, they keep showing up in each other’s campaigns. Just last year, they fronted the SKIMS x Dolce & Gabbana collaboration. It felt like a fever dream for fans who watched them scream at each other on Hulu just weeks prior.
The reality? The paycheck is often louder than the grudge.
Kim is a relentless worker. She’s currently pushing Skims toward a $5 billion valuation and gearing up for the Skims Beauty launch. Kourtney, while more "boundaries-focused," knows that the Kardashian brand is a collective. If one of them falls off, the value of the whole family drops. It’s a symbiotic relationship that doesn't require them to actually like each other every day.
- Kim’s Philosophy: If it makes money and builds the brand, do it. Feelings come second.
- Kourtney’s Philosophy: Protect the "vibe" and the peace, but don't leave millions on the table.
The 2026 Shift: A New Kind of Distance
Lately, things have cooled down, but not necessarily because they’re best friends again. They’ve basically mastered the art of "parallel parenting" their own lives. Kourtney is deeply entrenched in her life with Travis Barker and their son, Rocky. Kim is leaning into her legal work and her massive SKKY Partners private equity firm.
They don't have to be together 24/7 anymore.
Kourtney often skips the family "work trips," like the recent RV excursion to Joshua Tree. Kim makes jokes about it, saying Kourtney will use the baby as an excuse for the next decade. There’s a bite to it, sure, but it also feels like acceptance. They’ve stopped trying to force each other to be the same person.
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The Truth About the Rivalry
Most people think they hate each other. They don’t. They’re just two people with fundamentally different values who happen to be the most famous sisters on the planet. Kim values legacy and output; Kourtney values autonomy and experience. When those two things collide, you get "The Kardashians" Season 5 and 6.
What You Can Learn From the Kardashian Friction
If you’re looking for a takeaway from the endless cycle of Kim and Kourtney drama, it’s about boundaries vs. ambition. Kourtney has shown that it’s okay to say "no" to the family business, even if it makes you the villain in the group chat for a while. Kim has shown that focus and thick skin can build an empire, even if you lose some "warmth" along the way.
To navigate your own complex relationships, you should:
- Define your "Non-Negotiables": Kourtney’s was her wedding aesthetic. Kim’s is her work ethic. Know yours so you know when to fight and when to let it go.
- Accept the "Work Friend" Stage: Sometimes, family members are just people you share a history (and maybe a business) with. You don't have to be soulmates to be successful.
- Audit Your Communication: If you have a "Not [Name]" group chat, delete it. That's where the real poison starts.
The Kardashian saga isn't ending anytime soon. As long as there are brands to build and cameras rolling, Kim and Kourtney will be there—likely in matching outfits, even if they aren't speaking behind the scenes.
Next Steps for Following the Drama:
Keep an eye on the Skims Beauty launch later this year. If Kourtney isn't at the launch party, the "truce" might be thinner than we think. You should also watch for Kourtney’s increasingly independent Poosh activations, which continue to move further away from the "glam" aesthetic Kim champions.