Lamar Odom Denies Marrying Khloé Kardashian for Fame

Former NBA star Lamar Odom has denied claims that he married reality television star Khloé Kardashian for fame, saying his comments were misunderstood and insisting he did not need additional publicity at the time.

Odom addressed the controversy during an appearance on the podcast Nothing’s Off the Table with host Louis Ruggiero, where he attempted to clarify remarks that sparked widespread discussion earlier this year.

According to Odom, he never stated that he married Kardashian for clout.

“That never came out of my mouth,” he said, adding that he was already successful and had previously been involved with an “A+ actress” before meeting Kardashian.

When the host reminded him that he had loved Kardashian, Odom agreed but maintained that he had no need for additional fame.

“Yeah, I did. But I didn’t need more clout,” he said.

Documentary Comments Sparked Backlash

The controversy stems from the March release of the Netflix documentary Untold: The Death & Life of Lamar Odom.

The documentary was expected to focus on Odom’s basketball career, his struggles with addiction and his remarkable recovery journey. However, one of its biggest talking points became Odom’s reflections on his marriage to Kardashian.

In the documentary, Odom suggested that the Kardashian lifestyle may have influenced his decision to marry Khloé after only 30 days of dating.

His close friend, Anthony “Pumpkin” Booker, also claimed that Odom told him on the day of the wedding that he was trying to “better his future” because of the Kardashian family’s extensive connections.

Those remarks quickly fuelled speculation that Odom had married Kardashian partly for the opportunities and visibility associated with her famous family.

Khloé Kardashian Responds

Kardashian later addressed the comments on her podcast, Khloé in Wonder Land, expressing disappointment over Odom’s remarks.

She described the comments as hurtful and questioned why her former husband would suggest that fame played a role in their relationship.

Kardashian also revealed that she participated in the documentary without receiving payment and spent several hours contributing to the project as a favour.

However, she said she ultimately felt frustrated by the way their relationship was portrayed and by the comments that emerged from the documentary.

A Relationship That Continues to Draw Attention

Odom and Kardashian married in 2009 after a whirlwind romance and quickly became one of Hollywood’s most talked-about couples, even starring in the reality television series Khloé & Lamar.

Despite their highly public relationship and eventual separation, interest in their marriage has continued more than a decade later.

Many fans have argued that Odom’s personal recovery and comeback story remain far more compelling than revisiting old controversies surrounding his relationship with Kardashian.

His latest comments, however, have once again placed his former marriage firmly back in the spotlight.