Remember 2020? Everything was shut down, we were all stuck at home, and suddenly the internet’s biggest TikTok star was basically living in a Calabasas mansion with the eldest Kardashian. It was weird. It was everywhere. Addison Rae and Kourtney Kardashian became the duo nobody saw coming, sparking a wave of "Wait, what?" across every social platform.
Honestly, it felt like a glitch in the simulation. One day Addison is doing the "Renegade" in her bedroom, and the next she’s matching bikinis with a mother of three who is 21 years her senior. People had thoughts. A lot of them. Some fans thought it was a genius PR move, while others—including Kourtney’s own family—started asking if there was something more "romantic" going on behind those poolside selfies.
How It All Started (The Mason Factor)
You might think they met at some high-end fashion gala or through a Hollywood agent. Nope. It was actually way more "Gen Z" than that. The whole Addison Rae and Kourtney Kardashian saga kicked off because of Mason Disick.
Mason was a massive fan of Addison’s TikToks. He wanted to meet her. David Dobrik—because of course he was involved—made the introduction in early 2020. Addison showed up to surprise Mason, but she ended up staying for Kourtney. They just clicked.
The Honeymoon Phase
By the summer of 2020, they were inseparable. They weren't just "hanging out"; they were doing 6:00 AM workouts, filming YouTube videos for Kourtney’s lifestyle brand, Poosh, and wearing matching Kids See Ghosts sweatshirts.
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Addison even made the jump to the small screen, appearing on Keeping Up with the Kardashians. That’s where things got truly awkward. In one episode, Kim and Khloé actually sat Addison down for a lunch—without Kourtney—and grilled her. They straight-up asked if they were "hooking up." Addison laughed it off, but the interrogation showed just how much the friendship was bothering everyone around them.
Why Everyone Was So Confused
The 21-year age gap was the biggest sticking point. When they started posting "bestie" content, Kourtney was 41 and Addison was 19. Critics called it "predatory" or "childish."
Kourtney didn't care. She clapped back at a troll on Instagram who asked why she was hanging out with someone half her age, asking if the person had "any better ideas" for how she should spend her summer. To Kourtney, Addison was a "breath of fresh air." While her sisters were often bogged down in family drama, Addison brought a lightness and "good energy" that Kourtney felt she was missing.
From Addison’s perspective, Kourtney was a mentor. Imagine being 19, suddenly becoming the most famous person on the internet, and having a Kardashian—someone who has lived under a microscope for decades—showing you how to navigate the madness. It was a symbiotic relationship, even if it looked bizarre from the outside.
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The Slow Fade: Where Are They Now?
If you look at their socials today, the "bestie" era seems like a lifetime ago. The matching outfits have been replaced by very different life paths.
In a January 2025 interview with Rolling Stone, Addison gave a rare, slightly cryptic update on the status of her relationship with Kourtney. She noted that she’s "lived a few lives" since then. It wasn't a "we hate each other" comment, but it definitely signaled that the intense, daily bond had dissolved.
Why the distance?
There wasn't some massive, explosive fight (at least not one that went public). Life just happened.
- Kourtney’s New Chapter: Kourtney married Travis Barker and welcomed their son, Rocky Thirteen. Her world shifted toward the "Kravis" bubble and motherhood.
- Addison’s Career Pivot: Addison moved away from being "just a TikToker." She launched a legitimate music career, collaborated with Charli xcx on the Brat remix, and started touring.
- The Megan Fox Era: For a while, Kourtney replaced Addison in the headlines with Megan Fox. The two "rockstar wives" became the new duo to watch, leaving the TikTok era in the rearview mirror.
The Legacy of the Unlikely Duo
So, was it all for the cameras? Probably not entirely. While the friendship definitely helped Addison’s brand and gave Kourtney a "cool factor" with younger audiences, the sheer amount of time they spent together during the pandemic suggests there was a genuine connection.
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They still seem to be on good terms. Kourtney even posted a sweet birthday tribute for Addison’s 24th birthday in late 2024, complete with a candy basket. They just aren't the "joined at the hip" pair they used to be.
What We Can Learn from the Era
The Addison Rae and Kourtney Kardashian friendship was a masterclass in how different generations can influence each other in the social media age. It proved that in the influencer world, "vibes" and "energy" often trump traditional social boundaries like age or background.
If you’re looking to apply some of their "energy" to your own life, here are a few takeaways:
- Don't Fear the Age Gap: Mentorship goes both ways. Older friends offer wisdom; younger friends offer fresh perspectives.
- Ignore the Trolls: If a relationship makes you happy and brings out a better version of you, the public's opinion is secondary.
- Accept the "Season": Not every friendship is meant to last forever. Some are just for a specific "season" of your life—like a global pandemic—and that’s okay.
To stay updated on what both stars are doing today, you can follow Addison’s music journey as she prepares for major festival slots like Coachella 2026, or check out Kourtney’s latest wellness deep dives on Poosh. Their paths might not cross as often now, but the impact of that 2020 "fever dream" is still felt across pop culture today.