Kim Kardashian has disclosed a hospitalization for esophagitis in the new trailer for season eight of The Kardashians.
The 45-year-old reality star was filmed lying in a hospital bed as she told cameras she “has something called esophagitis,” according to the preview released ahead of the Hulu show’s October 8 premiere. The diagnosis carries added weight for the family: Kardashian’s father, Robert Kardashian Sr., died in September 2003 at age 53 from esophageal cancer. In the trailer, someone off-camera can be heard asking her, “Didn’t your father… Isn’t it what he died of?”
The camera then cut to Kris Jenner, who was seen tearing up during a confessional about her daughter’s condition.
“I can’t, it makes me want to cry,” she said.
Esophagitis, as defined by the Mayo Clinic, is “swelling and irritation, called inflammation, of the tissues that line the esophagus,” the muscular tube that carries food and drink from the mouth to the stomach. The condition is not the same as esophageal cancer, though it can cause painful and difficult swallowing as well as chest pain. Multiple factors can trigger the illness, and treatment depends on its exact cause and the extent of damage to the esophageal lining.
Without treatment, esophagitis can damage the esophageal lining to the point where the organ has trouble moving food and liquid to the stomach. Potential complications include dehydration, scarring or narrowing of the esophagus, and unhealthy weight loss. Common symptoms include trouble or painful swallowing, food becoming stuck in the esophagus, acid reflux, and heartburn. The trailer did not specify the severity of Kardashian’s case or what led to her hospitalization.
The health revelation is not the only personal matter Kardashian has addressed publicly in recent months. She has also shared details of a separate brain scan that led to an aneurysm scare, though that condition is distinct from the esophagitis diagnosis featured in the upcoming season.
The new season trailer also teased tension among the Kardashian-Jenner sisters. Kim was shown criticizing eldest sibling Kourtney’s social withdrawal, telling cameras, “She doesn’t know how to have friends, how to have fun, how to hang out with sisters. It’s sad.” The comment came after Kendall Jenner told Kourtney’s ex Scott Disick that the family barely sees her anymore.
Elsewhere in the preview, Kendall Jenner addressed long-running speculation about her relationship with model Cara Delevingne. During a conversation with Caitlyn Jenner, who asked about her love life, the model acknowledged the rumors directly.
“There’s definitely a rumor that Cara and I dated,” she said in a confessional, before stating flatly, “it’s not true.” She then added with a laugh, “I have nothing against having sex with Cara,” as the two friends sat together. “Never say never, right,” she continued, before both women burst into laughter.
The eighth season of The Kardashians drops October 8 on Hulu.