MILAN, ITALY – FEBRUARY 24: Kim Kardashian is seen during the Milan Fashion Week Fall/Winter 2022/2023 on February 24, 2022 in Milan, Italy. (Photo by Arnold Jerocki/Getty Images)

Over a year after filing for divorce from Kanye West (now legally known as Ye), Kim Kardashian’s marital status is officially “single.” After months of messy back and forth between the pair, during which Kardashian stated Ye’s behaviour had been causing her “emotional distress”, on Wednesday, a judge in L.A. approved the SKIMs founder’s petition to become legally single and simultaneously drop her ex-husband’s last name “West” from her name.

Kardashian, who has been in Europe attending fashion month, appeared at the hearing via video conference, while West left proceedings to his new attorney, who did not object to Kardashian removing “West” from her legal name. The pair’s custody agreement and sharing of assets have not been settled and will be handled separately. 

MILAN, ITALY – FEBRUARY 24: Kim Kardashian is seen during Milan Fashion Week Fall/Winter 2022/2023 on February 24, 2022 in Milan, Italy. (Photo by Arnold Jerocki/Getty Images)

According to an E! News source, “Kim is feeling a huge sense of relief now that she has been declared legally single. She is very happy and feels she is one step closer to reclaiming her independence and being able to move on in her life.” They added, the pair “have many upcoming issues to work out” before finalising the divorce, but that Kardashian “is hopeful they can get through it for the sake of the kids.”

Kardashian filed the petition to become legally single back in December, which seemingly reignited West’s bid to win his ex-wife back. After dating Uncut Gems Jams actress Julia Fox for a whirlwind six weeks, the day of their split West sent a truck full of roses to Kardashian’s house on Valentine’s Day, before posting – and then deleting – a series of worrying Instagrams, including ones threatening Kardashian’s new partner, comedian Pete Davidson. 

After apologising for the messages that could result in real-world harm to Davidson at Kardashian’s request, West went on to continue his charade and today – coinciding with the judge’s decision for Kardashian to be legally single – released a music video, depicting a claymation version of Davidson being kidnapped, tied up, and buried alive.

Before this latest addition to his aggressive behaviour towards Davidson, many had already observed West, who suffers from bipolar disorder, is engaging in behaviour that appears abusive. Following the video’s release, one person labelled the video “emotional abuse,” writing “will end very badly for this family.” They continued, “I felt terrified, can’t imagine how Kim feels. He’s terrorising her as punishment and I hope people will stop excusing this as art.”