Hello and welcome to the hellscape that is 2020 *part two*. It may be a new year, but, obviously, we are still dealing with the same shit. That shit includes: a worsening global pandemic, a galvanised far-right, and a rumour involving three people who melt every cell in my brain. Yes, that’s right, I’m referring to Kim Kardashian, Kanye West, and Jeffree Star.

The story starts here: on Tuesday (January 5), Page Six reported that Kim and Kanye were filing for divorce. “She’s done,” a source told the publication. “This divorce is happening because Kim has grown up a lot. She is serious about taking the bar exam and becoming a lawyer, she is serious about her prison reform campaign. Meanwhile Kanye is talking about running for president and saying other crazy shit, and she’s just had enough of it.” Fair enough.

Yesterday (January 6), while protesters stormed the US Capitol in an incident “as close to a coup attempt” as the US has ever seen, bigger and more important news was emerging on TikTok: Kanye has been unfaithful to Kim (or so the rumour goes). What’s more, he’s allegedly cheated with a “very famous male beauty guru” – believed to be Jeffree Star. 

For legal reasons, I must say that this is a rumour. Not only is it a rumour, but it’s almost definitely also… a joke. Anyway, back to it.

The “tea” that Kanye and Jeffree have been shagging behind Kim’s back comes from TikTok user Ava Louise, the comedy provocateur who previously filmed herself licking a toilet seat for a parody ‘coronavirus challenge’. Funny stuff. In a video which features the Page Six article as the backdrop, Ava says: “Now that Kim’s finally doing this, I feel like I can spill the tea that I’ve been holding onto for months.” 

“This whole divorce comes as no surprise,” she continues. “Kanye’s been hooking up with a very famous beauty guru… male beauty guru! A lot of people in the scene have known for a while.”

In another video, Ava doubles down on her claim, writing: “This is alleged, I was told by a source – a very good one… but it made so much sense to me. Kanye’s *possible* internalised homophobia is so sad.”

Despite there being no evidence to support the rumour, it’s quickly spread across social media. TikTok user @pattypopculture even made a video listing the reasons why it might be true, including the fact that Jeffree moved to Wyoming this summer – where Kanye is currently living. He also claimed that “Kim met with a lawyer this summer” and “gave evidence as to why Kanye was cheating on her with Jeffree”.

Fuelling the fire, Jeffree tweeted that he’s “ready for Sunday Service”, referencing Kanye’s, well, Sunday Service. Insider reports that Jeffree also deleted a 2011 tweet replying to Kanye, which read: “Last night was so fun!” Though the publication adds that the make-up artist often tweeted celebs in the early 2010s. YouTuber Daniel Keem reportedly texted Jeffree to ask about the rumours, to which he responded: “I’m having the best time in Wyoming, come visit sometime!”

Anyway, now you know. I hope your life shines a little bit brighter with his knowledge. I can assure you that mine does not.