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It’s no secret that Kim Kardashian West and Kanye West first met years before they became a couple. Both were part of the same elite circle and had plenty of mutual friends, so the introduction was bound to happen sooner rather than later. But some fans believe that these two may have begun their relationship years before they went public.

This wouldn’t be that big of a deal — except for the fact that both were involved in serious relationships when the alleged affair is thought to have begun. Did Kardashian and West really cheat on their significant others years before they got together?

Kim Kardashian, Kourtney Kardashian, and Kanye West in 2008
Kim Kardashian, Kourtney Kardashian, and Kanye West in 2008 | Michael Bezjian/WireImage

Kardashian and West met through a mutual friend

This power couple met two decades ago through a mutual friend, though at the time neither could have imagined they’d be happily married with four kids in 2020.

“I met him I think in 2002 or 2003. He was recording a song with Brandy, and I was her friend. I vividly remember hanging out with him and then they did a video together, so I’d see him a few times,” Kardashian revealed during a Keeping Up With the Kardashians anniversary special (via Elite Daily).

“He was asking his friends: ‘Who is this Kim Kardajan?’ He didn’t know what my name was.”

They were friends before things turned romantic

Kim Kardashian and Kanye West
Kim Kardashian West and Kanye West | Rich Fury/Forum Photos via Getty Images

During a 2012 interview, Kardashian explained that she and West maintained a friendship for years before she finally figured out her feelings for him ran deeper.

“We met maybe almost a decade ago, I’ve known him for a really long time, we’ve been friends for like six or seven years, so it’s very comforting to have someone that knows everything about you that respects you, understands, has gone through similar things,” she told Oprah at the time.

However, some fans claim this couple is keeping quiet about having an affair much sooner than 2012.

West’s ex Amber Rose called Kardashian a ‘homewrecker’

Before Kardashian and West became an official item, the rapper was involved in a two year relationship with model and actress Amber Rose. And Rose claims that Kardashian and West were hooking up behind the scenes long before anyone realized.

During a 2012 interview with Star magazine, Rose said she was texting West and sending him photos while he was still in a relationship with Rose. She said Kardashian was, “one of the main reasons why me and Kanye are not together. She’s a homewrecker!”

Meanwhile, these allegations would imply that Kardashian was also cheating on retired football pro Reggie Bush, who she was dating at that time. In a 2019 episode of KUWTK, Kardashian strongly denied the “homewrecker” allegations and swore she didn’t start dating West before 2012.

Kardashian and Rose laid their feud to rest

Things were heated between the Kardashian family and Rose, plus between West and Rose for a while following that interview. West had admitted in the song “Cold” that he fell for Kardashian at the same time Rose started hooking up with Wiz Khalifa, which again predated their alleged first hookup.

Then West really stirred up trouble when he said, “If Kim had dated me when I first wanted to be with her, there wouldn’t be an Amber Rose. It’s very hard for a woman to wanna be with someone that’s with Amber Rose. I had to take 30 showers before I got with Kim.” 

Rose responded with a few barbs of her own about West’s sexual preferences and Kardashian’s past lovers. But later, she and Kardashian had an in-person meeting and finally ended the feud with an epic selfie.

Kardashian and West are happy to be together now

Cheating is never a good plan or a healthy start to a relationship. But even if Kardashian and West were unfaithful to their significant others in the beginning, they’ve moved past it now and have a seemingly solid marriage.

“I don’t know why it took so long for us to kind of get together,” Kardashian mused during an interview. “But I think I needed to go through all my experiences and some that he’s gone through.”