Cinema VinesKim Kardashian revealed in a new trailer for the upcoming season of Hulu’s reality series The Kardashians that she was recently hospitalized after being diagnosed with esophagitis, an inflammation of the esophagus that can cause painful swallowing, chest pain and heartburn. The clip shows the star lying in a hospital bed wearing a gown, and she explains to the camera, “I have something called esophagitis.” A producer then asks, “Didn’t your father… isn’t it what he died of?” The question visibly unsettles the family, prompting Kim’s mother, Kris Jenner, to break into tears and comment, “It makes me want to cry.”
The footage does not detail the events that led to Kim’s admission or the specifics of her treatment, but it does show her crying in a later segment of the trailer. The emotional moment underscores a personal connection to her late father, Robert Kardashian Sr., who died in 2003 at age 59 from esophageal cancer only weeks after his diagnosis. The family’s experience with the disease has spurred them to advocate for early detection and treatment.
In 2019, Kim, Kris, Kourtney, Khloé, Kendall and other members of the Kardashian‑Jenner clan helped inaugurate the UCLA Robert G. Kardashian Center for Esophageal Health in Los Angeles. At the center’s fifth anniversary in 2024, Kim noted that she had referred friends to the facility, saying, “It has saved their lives.” She reiterated the center’s mission in a 2025 episode of the series, emphasizing how new technology and specialist care could now prevent the kind of loss her family endured.
Medical experts explain that esophagitis can result from acid reflux, infections, allergies or certain medications. While most people with the condition do not develop cancer, chronic inflammation can progress to Barrett’s esophagus, a precancerous state that increases the risk of esophageal cancer. However, the Cleveland Clinic stresses that the majority of esophagitis cases do not lead to malignancy.
Kim’s candid disclosure and the family’s advocacy highlight the broader public health message that early detection and treatment of esophageal conditions can save lives—a message that resonates with the legacy of her father’s battle with the disease.
