Kanye Westbelieves his controversial2020 presidential runwas the tipping point in his marriage toKim Kardashian.
TheKeeping Up with the Kardashiansstar, 40, filed for divorce from the rapper, 43, on Friday after nearly seven years of marriage. Amid the divorce news, West has been “texting people” and “talking things through,” a source tells PEOPLE.
“He’s in that place of ‘if only,'” says the source. “‘If only I had done this, if only I hadn’t done that.’ He’s processing things.”
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“He thinks that the Presidential run was the straw that broke the camel’s back,” the source adds. “Before that, there was hope. After that, none. It cost him his marriage.”
The couple’s marriage originally landed in crisis last summer, at the height of West’s erratic behavior. His public outbursts began in July, after he launched hisbid for president of the United Statesanddivulged deeply personal detailsabout his family and marriage on the campaign trail and on Twitter.
“Even if my wife wants to divorce me after this speech, she brought North into the world even when I didn’t want to,” he said. “She stood up and she protected that child.”
A source told PEOPLE at the time that Kardashian was “shocked that Kanye spoke about North at the rally,” and she was “furious that he shared something so private.”
Kanye West and Kim Kardashian.Marc Piasecki/WireImage
West’s unpredictable behavior continued that week as he tweeted and deleted a string of provocative statements, including claims that Kardashian and her motherKris Jennerhad tried to"lock him up."(Of the allegation, a source told PEOPLE at the time that Kardashian had been"trying to get Kanye help for weeks.") West also claimed then that he had beenlooking to end his marriagesince November 2018, when Kardashian consulted with rapperMeek Millduring a criminal justice reform summit.
His behavior prompted Kardashian to address her husband’sbipolar disorder diagnosisin arare public statement, asking fans for “compassion” and acknowledging their “complicated and painful” situation.
Days after Kardashian made her statement, Westissued a public apologyto his wife on Twitter. A source told PEOPLE at the time that Westfelt “very bad,“adding, “It’s obvious that he still loves her.”
RELATED VIDEO:Kim Kardashian’Is Over’Kanye West’s ‘Chaos,’ Says Source: ‘They Are Not on the Same Page’
The pair — who wed in 2014 — then reunited in Cody, Wyoming, meeting face-to-face for the first time in weeks. Kardashian wasseen cryingin the car with her husband, and a source told PEOPLE she was “very emotional about everything, and also exhausted.”
Shortly afterwards, they flew to the Dominican Republic with their kids, with a source telling PEOPLE"the focus” of the trip was to work on their marriage. After they returned to the U.S. together, a source said they were"getting along"and both seemed “much happier.”
Kanye West and Kim Kardashian.
In mid-August, Westreinstated his Sunday Service in Wyoming, with Kardashian assuring fans that his team “took every precaution to ensure the choir’s health and safety” amid the COVID-19 pandemic.
“Kim still seems focused on making her marriage work,” a source told PEOPLE at the time. “She is pretty quiet about her exact plans for the future, but for now she seems okay with Kanye living in Wyoming.”
Then, in September, West once again thrust himself into the spotlight when hefired off another round of troubling tweets. A source told PEOPLE then that Kardashian was “at the end of her rope — again.”
Still, they appeared to weather the storm, and for the remainder of 2020, West maintained a relatively low profile. During the election in November, West conceded his defeat after receiving 60,000 votes across a dozen states. He alsoalluded to a potential 2024 campaign.
The first signs of renewed trouble came in December, when a source told PEOPLE the two were still together, though very muchliving “separate lives.”
In January, multiple sources confirmed to PEOPLE that Kardashian had been working with high-profiledivorce attorney Laura Wasserandplanned to file for divorce from West. That month, a source also said the stars"completely” stopped going to marriage counseling.
“They are justnot on the same pagewhen it comes to their future as a family,” another insider told PEOPLE. “And Kim is okay with it.”
Kim Kardashian and Kanye West with their children.Kim Kardashian/Instagram
Earlier this week, a source told PEOPLE that West was “not doing well” amid the couple’s split.
“He is anxious and very sad. He knows that the marriage is over, and there’s nothing that can be done right now,” the source said on Wednesday. “He also knows what he is losing in Kim.”
A source confirmed to PEOPLE on Friday that Kardashian filed for divorce from West and that things are amicable. According to the source, they are in agreement over joint legal and physical custody of their daughtersNorth, 7½, and Chicago, 3, and sonsSaint, 5, andPsalm, who will turn 2 in May. Additionally, the source said neither is contesting the prenup in place, negotiations have progressed and they are nearing a settlement.
A source previously told PEOPLE that as Kardashian works towardsher law degreeand continues to fight forcriminal justice reform, she wants to keep her focus on her children and her career.
“Kim knows what she wants to do with her life,” the source said. “She wants to keep living in L.A., create the best life for the kids and focus on her work passions.”
If you or someone you know need mental health help, text “STRENGTH” to the Crisis Text Line at 741-741 to be connected to a certified crisis counselor.
source: people.com
