Kim Kardashian has broken her silence following the death of her grandmother, Mary Jo 'MJ' Campbell, who passed away at the age of 91 on Thursday. The tribute comes after Kardashian's social media activity briefly confused fans.
Campbell's death was announced by her daughter, Kris Jenner, who described her mother as the "heart" of their family. Shortly after Jenner's announcement, Kardashian's Instagram account featured photos of her in a bikini from a recent vacation, leading to fan comments questioning the timing.
Kardashian later clarified that the Instagram post had been scheduled in advance. "This post was scheduled a few days ago before we lost MJ, so its timing came right alongside her passing," she explained. "I’ve been by my mom and grandma’s side this past week, and my heart is completely with my family right now. We love and miss her so deeply, and in the days ahead, we’ll be focusing on celebrating her beautiful life."
In her tribute, Kardashian shared a series of photos with Campbell, reflecting on their close bond. "My sweet Grandma MJ, my best friend, my gossip buddy, my forever twin... You taught all of us the importance of family, and those values are something we’ll carry with us forever!!!!!" Kardashian wrote. She also recalled how Campbell, who owned a children's clothing boutique in San Diego called Shannon & Company, instilled in her the importance of being a hardworking businesswoman.
Campbell was a recurring presence on the family's reality show, Keeping Up With The Kardashians, becoming a celebrity in her own right. Jenner, in her own tribute, remembered her mother for teaching her about the importance of family, kindness, resilience, and unconditional love.
Campbell had a life that included several marriages. She was married to her high school sweetheart for two months, later wed Robert Houghton with whom she had Kris and Karen Houghton, and then married Harry Shannon. She remained married to Shannon for 40 years until his death in 2003. Campbell once noted the similarity between her own love life and that of her granddaughter, Kim.
Campbell's passing marks the loss of the matriarch of the Kardashian-Jenner family. Her legacy of family values and strength is expected to continue to influence the family.