Exactly What Kanye West Said to Kim Kardashian West at Their 'Donda' Wedding Recreation

“He was smiling so hard," according to a source.

Kanye West & Kim Kardashian-West Donda Wedding
(Image credit: Twitter ¦ Apple Music)

At Kanye West's listening event Donda, which has garnered significant controversy, Kim Kardashian West made a dramatic appearance: it looked like she was re-marrying the singer-songwriter-producer in a wedding dress and veil from Balenciaga's Fall 2021 Haute Couture collection. In real life, the two are are in the process of getting a divorce, which makes the fake ceremony—recreating their 2014 wedding—all the more surprising.

And according to a source talking exclusively to Us Weekly, we have more details of exactly how that onstage moment went down. “He was smiling so hard you could feel his energy radiate as he was looking at her,” said the eyewitness. “If you watch the video from the [event], you will see he said, ‘You look pretty.'”

The source explained that no one knew the rapper's estranged wife would be making an appearance, but that it was emotional: Kardashian West had a “beautiful aura” when she came on stage. “His face lit up ... The choir was singing during the song and everyone started to tear up.”

Fans were confused, to say the least, but “if other people think it’s strange, it’s OK, because Kim doesn’t,” the person added. “She thinks it’s cool, great for his art and their relationship and loves to show her kids how much she supports him.”

According to a source talking to People, it's not that the couple is getting back together but "this more holistic sense of love as a healing force," adding, "The thing that's important is it's not at all about them getting back together or something like that."

Kardashian West shared photos of her onstage as well as backstage photos with her, West, and their children. She hasn't commented publicly about some of the controversy, but reports are indicating she might not have known about some of the aspects from the performance beforehand.

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Katherine J. Igoe
Contributing Editor

Katherine’s a contributing syndications editor at Marie Claire who covers fashion, culture, and lifestyle. In her role, she writes stories that are syndicated by MSN and other outlets. She’s been a full-time freelancer for over a decade and has had roles with Cosmopolitan (where she covered lifestyle, culture, and fashion SEO content) and Bustle (where she was their movies and culture writer). She has bylines in New York TimesParentsInStyle, Refinery29, and elsewhere. Her work has also been syndicated by ELLEHarper’s BazaarSeventeenGood Housekeeping, and Women’s Health, among others. In addition to her stories reaching millions of readers, content she's written and edited has qualified for a Bell Ringer Award and received a Communicator Award. 

Katherine has a BA in English and art history from the University of Notre Dame and an MA in art business from the Sotheby's Institute of Art (with a focus on marketing/communications). She covers a wide breadth of topics: she's written about how to find the very best petite jeanshow sustainable travel has found its footing on Instagram, and what it's like to be a professional advice-giver in the modern world. Her personal essays have run the gamut from learning to dress as a queer woman to navigating food allergies as a mom. She also has deep knowledge of SEO/EATT, affiliate revenue, commerce, and social media; she regularly edits the work of other writers. She speaks at writing-related events and podcasts about freelancing and journalism, mentors students and other new writers, and consults on coursework. Currently, Katherine lives in Boston with her husband and two kids, and you can follow her on Instagram. If you're wondering about her last name, it’s “I go to dinner,” not “Her huge ego,” but she responds to both.