Kim Kardashian received what she described as ‘the most thoughtful gift of a lifetime’ from her husband Kanye West in celebration of her 40th birthday.
The gift happened to be a hologram of Kim’s late father Robert Kardashian, who tragically passed away from esophageal cancer in July of 2003 at the age of 59.
‘A special surprise from heaven. A hologram of my dad. ✨ It is so lifelike! We watched it over and over, filled with emotion,’ wrote the KUWTK star, who shared a video of the hologram with her Twitter followers on Thursday.
Most thoughtful gift: Kim Kardashian received what she described as ‘the most thoughtful gift of a lifetime’ from her husband Kanye West for her 40th birthday, which happened to be a hologram of her late father Robert Kardashian
RIP: Robert tragically passed away from esophageal cancer in July of 2003 at the age of 59; Kim and Robert pictured
In a follow-up post, Kim wrote that she ‘can’t even describe what this meant to me and my sisters, my brother, my mom and closest friends to experience together.’
‘Thank you so much Kanye for this memory that will last a lifetime. Here’s a more close up view to see the incredible detail,’ concluded the KKW Beauty founder, who reuploaded the original clip in higher quality.
According to TMZ, Kanye delivered the sentimental gift to his wife of six-years and her family during their recent trip to Marlon Brando’s The Brando Resort in Tahiti.
West reportedly ‘led Kim, Kris, Khloe, Kourtney and Rob into a dark room where the hologram was unveiled.’
Sources close to the situation claimed that the Kardashian family viewed Robert’s hologram ‘several times’ with guests, before asking to be ‘alone with it.’
Sent from heaven: ‘A special surprise from heaven. A hologram of my dad. ✨ It is so lifelike! We watched it over and over, filled with emotion,’ wrote the KUWTK star, who shared a video of the hologram with her Twitter followers on Thursday
Greetings! ‘Happy Birthday Kimberly!’ greeted the hologram. ‘Look at you! You’re 40 and all grown up. You look beautiful just like when you were a little girl
As for how Kanye was able to make Robert come to life in such a detailed form, the rapper reportedly ‘paid a lot of attention’ to things Kim had told him over the years about her late father.
Especially how he would ‘leave her love notes and was always super supportive’ of her.
Other sources told TMZ that Kanye ‘spent a lot of time in the studio pouring over old video and audio of Robert to bring the vision to life.’
Artificial intelligence was also reportedly used to ‘finish off the project, which Kanye started in early September.’
The two-minute and 30-second video showed the late Kardashian patriarch rocking a beige suit jacket layered over a crisp white dress shirt as he seemingly spoke directly to Kim.
Memory lane: ‘Remember when I would drive you to school in my tiny Mercedes everyday and we would listen to this song together,’ recalled Robert as he began to jive to the beat of the 1961 hit Who Put The Bomp by Barry Mann
Goodbye: ‘I love you, Kimberly. Tell Kourtney, Khloe, and Rob that I love them and that I miss you all. Don’t forget to say your prayers,’ concluded the realistic image of Kardashian before fading into the darkness
‘Happy Birthday Kimberly!’ greeted the hologram. ‘Look at you! You’re 40 and all grown up. You look beautiful just like when you were a little girl.
‘I watch over you and your sisters and brother and the kids everyday. Sometimes I drop hints that I’m around,’ noted hologram Robert, who made reference to something the Kardashian family refers to as a ‘big peefee.’
‘Remember when I would drive you to school in my tiny Mercedes everyday and we would listen to this song together,’ recalled Robert as he began to jive to the beat of the 1961 hit Who Put The Bomp by Barry Mann.
As the song played out, hologram Robert made frequent thumbs up and even attempted to sing along to some of the catchiest lyrics.
The Robert hologram then abruptly transitioned to a more serious tone as he delivered a heartfelt speech to Kim about how ‘proud’ he is of her and her accomplishments.
Moving: Kanye’s gift clearly moved the entirety of the Kardashian family, who have not witnessed their father in such a ‘lifelike’ form in over 17 years; Rob, Kim, Robert, Kourtney, and Khloe pictured
Former couple: Robert married Kris Jenner, now 64, in 1978 and during the span of their 13 year marriage, the former couple welcomed daughters Kourtney, 41, Kimberly, 40, Khloe, 36, and son Rob, 33; Robert, Kourtney, Kim, and Kris pictured
‘I am so proud of the woman you have become, Kimberly, and all that you’ve accomplished. All of your hard work, all of the businesses you have built are incredible.
‘But most impressive is your commitment to become a lawyer and and carry on my legacy,’ noted Robert with a smile and a tender hand on his heart.
‘It’s a long and a hard road, but it’s worth it. And I am with you every step of the way.’
He was referencing to Kim’s current four-year apprenticeship program at a well known California law firm, which she has already completed a year of, and her goal to take the bar exam in 2022.
Prior to his death, Robert worked as a successful lawyer in the Los Angeles area. Most famously, he was a legal member of the infamous ‘Dream Team’ that got football star and friend O.J. Simpson acquittal for double murder in 1995.
Kim married West in 2014 and they have since welcomed daughters North, seven, and Chicago, two, and sons Saint, four, and Psalm, one. Kanye and Kim are pictured at her birthday party
He then expressed his pride over Kim’s dedication to her Armenian ‘roots’ and the frequent support she often shows for the country.
‘The way that you’re connecting with your roots and supporting Armenia means so much to me. You are a proud Armenian and I am a proud Armenian father,’ he gushed.
‘But the most important thing that I have witnessed is watching you grow your family. You married the most, most, most, most GENIUS man in the whole world, Kanye West.
‘You are the most, most, most, most amazing mother to your four beautiful children. They are perfect.’
‘Keep doing what you’re doing, Kimberly. You are a beautiful soul. Know that I am very proud of you and I am always with you.’
Hologram Robert passionately declared that he has ‘built a firewall around [the Kardashian family].’
Kim also got a suprize 40th birthday arranged by her family on a Keeping Up With Kardashians special. Khloe had admitted in her confessional she’s glad Kim wasn’t planning a birthday party because the family has ‘something up our magical sleeves’ instead. The family – and some of Kim’s friends – decided to recreate a dance that they did for Kim at her 10th birthday
Kourtney said their father Robert had filmed many home movies of them as children. They decided to plaster the walls with footage from all Kim’s previous birthday parties. ‘My mom and dad videoed everything, took pictures of everything, so I have, like, clear memories of each birthday party and to see them all set up as I walk through this party and then to have the huge screens playing my birthday parties… it’s so fun to see’
Kim was even gifted with a replica of the Sweet 16 white BMW she received as a teenager
‘I love you, Kimberly. Tell Kourtney, Khloe, and Rob that I love them and that I miss you all. Don’t forget to say your prayers,’ concluded the realistic image of Kardashian before fading into the darkness.
Kanye’s gift clearly moved the entirety of the Kardashian family, who have not witnessed their father in such a ‘lifelike’ form in over 17 years.
Sources say Kanye spent a lot of time going through old footage of Kim’s father to bring him to life.
Kim married West in 2014 and they have since welcomed daughters North, seven, and Chicago, two, and sons Saint, four, and Psalm, one.
Robert married Kris Jenner, now 64, in 1978 and during the span of their 13 year marriage, the former couple welcomed daughters Kourtney, 41, Kimberly, 40, Khloe, 36, and son Rob, 33.
Robert and Kris divorced in 1991 and the Kardashian matriarch went onto to marry Caitlyn Jenner, 70.
Kim’s recent birthday getaway to Marlon Brando’s The Brando Resort in Tahiti has sparked massive backlash as critics complaining it was tone deaf and out of touch while many Americans battle coronavirus or have lost their jobs in the lockdown.
Interesting choice of words: Kim has been heavily criticized for taking a lavish vacation amid COVID-19 when so many people are dying from COVID-19 and suffering from losing their jobs, as well as not being able to get tested or see family for long periods of time
No big deal to her: Her sister Khloe Kardashian defended her during her appearance on the Ellen DeGeneres Show following criticism for her tone deaf posts of her extravagant 40th birthday beach getaway. And one day later, Kim Kardashian shrugged aside the controversy to share even more pictures from her reported $1 million vacation to Marlon Brando’s The Brando Resort in Tahiti; seen with sister Kourtney Kardashian
The controversy circling the family began after Kim bragged about her luxurious trip, despite calling her self ‘humbled’ and ‘blessed.’
She claimed in her caption that all her guests received ‘multiple health screens’ and quarantined two weeks before she surprised them with a trip to a private island to celebrate her 40th birthday.
Followers were completely caught off guard by Kim’s long-winded post detailing the extravagant affair.
Kim has been heavily criticized for taking a lavish vacation amid COVID-19 when so many people are dying from COVID-19 and suffering from losing their jobs, as well as not being able to get tested or see family for long periods of time.
She wrote: ’40 and feeling so humbled and blessed.
‘There is not a single day that I take for granted, especially during these times when we are all reminded of the things that truly matter.
‘For my birthday this year, I couldn’t think of a better way to spend it than with some of the people who have helped shaped me into the woman I am today.
‘Before COVID, I don’t think any of us truly appreciated what a simple luxury it was to be able to travel and be together with family and friends in a safe environment.
‘After 2 weeks of multiple health screens and asking everyone to quarantine, I surprised my closest inner circle with a trip to a private island where we could pretend things were normal just for a brief moment in time.
The 40-year-old star shamelessly shared a plethora of images from her trip, as she continued the party in the ocean for a night swim as well as footage from Sunday Service on the island.
Kim captioned the slideshow from her ocean adventure as ‘night swim,’ as she posed up a storm alongside Kourtney, her former personal assistant Stephanie Shepherd and LaLa Anthony.
She also shared a short clip as the last slide, with the four of them heading into the water as music blasted and cameras and videos were flashing around them.
The reported $1 million luxurious vacation comes amid the global COVID-19 and strict lockdowns to slow the spread of the virus – with her home state of California under a non-essential travel ban – a guideline which Kim and her family ignored as they jetted to Tahiti via a private jet.