Kim Kardashian may be the picture of calm in public. However, behind the scenes, her inner circle is reportedly dealing with tension of its own. According to multiple insiders, two of her closest confidants, celebrity hairstylist Chris Appleton and longtime friend Jonathan Cheban, are allegedly clashing over their place in the reality TV star’s orbit. Those close to Kardashian say the rivalry may be less about friendship and more about status.
Kim Kardashian’s friends Chris Appleton and Jonathan Cheban are feuding, per source
Rumors of a feud between Chris Appleton and Jonathan Cheban surfaced this week after insiders claimed that the pair are engaged in what one source described as a “shadow-war” over who gets closer access to Kim Kardashian. Speaking to Rob Shuter, one source alleged that both “love being in Kim’s orbit.” They further suggested that competition has intensified as Appleton’s public profile continues to grow.
Cheban, known for years as Kardashian’s inseparable plus-one, has reportedly watched Appleton’s rise with unease. The stylist’s high-fashion looks and viral glam moments have positioned him as a prominent figure in her world.
Some sources claim that the shift has left Cheban feeling pushed out. One insider even suggested Appleton sees Cheban’s “Foodgod throwback energy” as outdated. They further claimed that he prefers to align himself with Kardashian’s evolving, brand-driven future instead. For her part, the reality TV star is reportedly staying neutral. However, insiders claim that she isn’t entirely opposed to the attention.
That said, the situation gets more layered when considering Cheban’s recent public alignment with Larsa Pippen. Pippen and Kardashian famously fell out in 2020, and although neither has shared every detail, the former’s remarks about the Kardashian family being “brainwashed” made the separation obvious.
So when Cheban appeared with Pippen at a New York fashion event, fans speculated that the reunion might be complicating his longstanding bond with Kardashian.
Sources say Cheban insists there’s no real fracture, claiming he and Kardashian “talk all the time.” However, the two haven’t been photographed together since late 2022, leaving fans to wonder whether the alleged feud is shifting the dynamics of Kardashian’s carefully curated inner circle.
