If you’ve been keeping up with the Kardashians lately—and honestly, who isn't?—you’ve probably seen a sweet, quiet young man appearing more frequently in Khloé’s Instagram stories and on the Hulu show. He’s at the birthday parties. He’s in the living room during the morning chaos. He’s even at dance classes.
His name is Amari Thompson.
But for those scratching their heads wondering about the exact family tree here, the answer is both simple and deeply emotional. Amari is the younger brother of Tristan Thompson, Khloé’s ex-partner and the father of her two children, True and Tatum. This makes Amari the biological uncle to Khloé’s kids.
However, "uncle" doesn't even begin to cover the reality of their situation in 2026.
The heartbreaking backstory of Amari Thompson
To understand why Amari is so central to Khloé’s world, you have to go back to January 5, 2023. That was the day Tristan’s mother, Andrea Thompson, passed away suddenly from a heart attack in Toronto.
Andrea wasn't just Tristan’s mom; she was the sole, 24/7 caretaker for Amari.
Amari, now 19, lives with Lennox-Gastaut syndrome (LGS). It’s a particularly brutal and rare form of epilepsy that causes frequent, daily seizures. Because of his condition, Amari is non-verbal and uses a wheelchair for mobility. When Andrea died, the family’s world didn't just stop—it fractured.
Tristan became Amari's legal guardian in early 2024, but being an active NBA player with a grueling travel schedule meant he couldn't provide the specialized, stationary care Amari required.
Why Khloé Kardashian became his primary caretaker
This is where the story gets "Kardashian-level" complicated, but also surprisingly human. Despite the well-documented drama with Tristan (the cheating scandals, the breakups, the public scrutiny), Khloé stepped up in a way nobody expected.
She didn't just "help out." She essentially moved Amari into her orbit.
"Amari deserves my love and care, regardless of where me and Tristan stand," Khloé shared on her podcast, Khloé in Wonder Land.
It’s a choice that has baffled fans for years. Why take on the immense responsibility of a severely disabled young man who isn't your biological relative, especially when his brother (your ex) has a history of letting you down?
The answer is Andrea.
Before she passed, Khloé and Andrea were incredibly close. Khloé has mentioned that she promised Andrea she would always look after Amari. In Khloé’s eyes, this isn't about Tristan; it's about a sacred bond with a woman she viewed as a second mother and a commitment to a young man who has no one else to provide the stability he needs.
Living with Lennox-Gastaut syndrome
Life at Khloé's house isn't just glitz and glam. When Amari is there, the routine is dictated by medical necessity.
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Lennox-Gastaut syndrome is unpredictable. Amari can have multiple seizures a day. During an episode of The Kardashians, viewers saw a glimpse of this reality when Amari had a seizure right before his 18th birthday party. Khloé handled it with the calm precision of a seasoned nurse, a side of her the public rarely sees.
She employs two specialized caretakers, Noelle and Elba, to ensure Amari has around-the-clock support. But she’s the one managing the house, the atmosphere, and the integration of Amari into her children's lives.
Why she wants True and Tatum around Amari
One of the most moving parts of this dynamic is how Khloé uses her relationship with Amari to teach her children.
A lot of parents might shield their toddlers from a relative with severe disabilities because they're afraid of "scaring" them. Khloé does the opposite. She makes sure True and Tatum spend more time with their Uncle Amari than almost any other member of the extended family.
She wants them to see that "different" isn't "scary."
True, now a bit older, has become a little protector. She isn't frightened by the wheelchair or the seizures; she's concerned. She knows how to be gentle. This kind of empathy is hard to teach with books, and Khloé is basically using her life as a living classroom for compassion.
Defending Amari from the "gross" internet
Being a Kardashian means everything you do is up for debate, but Khloé has drawn a very hard line when it comes to Amari.
In late 2025, she posted a video of Amari at a dance class. The comment section—as it often does—turned toxic. People questioned why a non-verbal person in a wheelchair would be in a dance class, with some calling it a "prop" for the show.
Khloé didn't hold back. She slammed the "gross commentary," pointing out that just because someone has special needs doesn't mean they don't have interests or things that bring them joy. It was a rare moment of genuine, unpolished anger from a woman usually very careful with her PR.
The legal reality vs. the emotional one
Technically, Tristan Thompson is the legal guardian. He holds the "Conservatorship" and manages Amari’s inheritance from Andrea.
But the "boots on the ground" reality is that Khloé’s home is the home base. Because Tristan is often in different states for games, Amari staying with Khloé provides the consistency that LGS patients desperately need. Travel is hard on his body. Routine is his best medicine.
So, who is Amari to Khloé Kardashian?
He’s her former mother-in-law’s legacy. He’s her children’s uncle. He’s a young man who requires a village, and Khloé has decided to be the mayor of that village. It’s a complicated, messy, beautiful arrangement that proves family isn't always about blood or marriage—sometimes it’s just about who shows up when the worst happens.
How to support similar causes
If Amari’s story has moved you, there are ways to get involved without being a reality star. Tristan founded the Amari Thompson Fund years ago to support families dealing with epilepsy through Epilepsy Toronto. You can also look into the Lennox-Gastaut Syndrome (LGS) Foundation, which provides resources for families navigating this specific, difficult diagnosis. Supporting local respite care programs is another way to help caregivers who, like Andrea was, are often doing the hardest job in the world entirely on their own.