It is the rumor that simply refuses to die. For decades, the internet has been obsessed with one specific paternity question: is OJ Simpson Khloe Kardashian's dad? People look at photos, they compare nose shapes, they track timelines of the 1980s, and they speculate wildly on TikTok. It’s a tabloid staple that has haunted the Kardashian family for years, despite repeated denials and DNA tests that supposedly settled the matter long ago.
Honestly, the obsession makes sense when you look at the history. The Kardashians and the Simpsons weren't just acquaintances; they were incredibly close. Robert Kardashian Sr. was the man who famously carried OJ’s garment bag. He was the loyal friend who joined the defense "Dream Team" during the trial of the century. Kris Jenner was best friends with Nicole Brown Simpson. Their lives were inextricably linked long before reality TV was even a concept.
But does a close friendship mean a secret affair took place?
Why people keep asking if OJ Simpson is Khloe Kardashian's dad
The theory didn't just appear out of thin air. It mostly stems from the physical differences between Khloe and her sisters, Kourtney and Kim. While the older two are shorter with darker features that clearly mirror Robert Sr.’s Armenian heritage, Khloe is significantly taller—standing at 5'10"—and has a different facial structure.
This visual discrepancy became the foundation for a mountain of conspiracy theories. Critics point to Kris Jenner’s own admission in her memoir, Kris Jenner... and All Things Kardashian, where she confessed to having an affair during her marriage to Robert. She was honest about her infidelity, though she identified the man as a soccer player she referred to as "Ryan." Still, that admission cracked the door open. If she stepped out once, the public reasoned, maybe she stepped out with the family's most famous friend?
Then there are the "sources." Over the years, former associates of the family have fanned the flames. Jan Ashley and Ellen Pierson, two women who were married to Robert Kardashian after his divorce from Kris, both claimed to the press that Robert had doubts about Khloe’s paternity. They alleged he told them Khloe wasn't his, though he loved her as his own. These claims were met with fierce pushback from the Kardashian camp, who labeled the women as opportunistic.
The Simpson family's take on the matter
What did OJ himself say? Until his passing in 2024, Simpson was asked this question more times than anyone could count. He generally laughed it off. In 2018, a paparazzi caught him in Vegas and asked if congratulations were in order for Khloe’s pregnancy (with True Thompson). OJ responded by saying he was happy for her, but followed up with a very clear, "I have nothing to do with it."
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He even took to Twitter (now X) in 2019 to post a video specifically addressing the rumors. He stated flatly that he never had any romantic or sexual interest in Kris Jenner and that, as far as he knew, she never had any in him. He called Robert Kardashian a "brother" and insisted that the stories were "bogus, bad, and tasteless."
Despite this, the "look-alike" comparisons continue. People post side-by-side photos of Khloe’s daughter, True, and OJ’s daughter, Sydney Brooke Simpson, claiming there is a family resemblance. It's the kind of armchair genetics that thrives in comment sections but rarely holds up under actual scientific scrutiny.
The DNA evidence and the "Keeping Up" moments
We actually saw this play out on television. If you go back to the earlier seasons of Keeping Up with the Kardashians, there was a whole story arc centered on Khloe’s paternity. Kris Jenner was so frustrated by the rumors that she brought a DNA test to the table.
Here is the kicker: Khloe actually refused to take the test for a long time.
Her reasoning was actually pretty grounded. She felt that Robert Kardashian was the man who raised her, the man who loved her, and the man she called "Dad." To her, a biological test was an insult to his memory. Eventually, the family did some testing—not for OJ, but a 23andMe-style heritage test. The results showed that Khloe had Middle Eastern markers consistent with Robert’s Armenian background.
Furthermore, in 2018, Khloe’s sister Kendall did a "Lie Detector" segment where the paternity was brought up, and the results pointed toward the rumors being false. While polygraphs aren't foolproof, the family has been remarkably consistent in their stance.
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The Alex Roldan Theory
If you really want to get into the weeds of Kardashian lore, OJ isn't even the only "secret dad" candidate the internet has produced. There is a long-standing theory that Khloe’s real father is actually Alex Roldan, Kris Jenner’s longtime hair stylist.
Why Roldan? Because the physical resemblance is, frankly, much more striking than any supposed link to OJ. Roldan is tall, and many fans point to his nose and jawline as being nearly identical to Khloe’s. There’s even an old photo of Kris and Alex together where the likeness is hard to ignore. Khloe herself has joked about this, once posting a photo of Alex on Instagram with a caption calling him "dad." It was clearly a troll move to mock the conspiracy theorists, but it shows how deeply these rumors have permeated her life.
The impact of the "Trial of the Century" on the family
To understand why the is OJ Simpson Khloe Kardashian's dad rumor is so sticky, you have to understand the trauma of 1994. The Kardashian household was literally ripped apart by the OJ Simpson trial.
Kris Jenner was mourning her best friend, Nicole Brown Simpson, who she believed was murdered by OJ. Robert Kardashian was standing by his best friend, OJ, believing in his innocence (or at least his right to a defense). The kids were caught in the middle. They would go to the courthouse and see their father sitting behind a man the world hated. They would then go home to a mother who was grieving the victim.
That level of proximity to a global scandal leaves a mark. When a family is that close to a polarizing figure, the public naturally starts looking for "hidden" connections. The paternity rumor is effectively a manifestation of how much the OJ trial defined the Kardashian origin story.
What the experts say about genetics
Biologically speaking, Khloe being taller or looking different than her sisters isn't evidence of a different father. Genetics are messy. Recessive traits can skip generations. Robert Kardashian Sr. wasn't a giant, but Kris Jenner’s side of the family has different physical attributes. Khloe has often been compared to her maternal grandmother, Mary Jo "MJ" Shannon. When you look at old photos of MJ, the resemblance to Khloe is much more apparent than any link to the Simpson family.
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Also, it is worth noting that Khloe’s brother, Rob Kardashian Jr., has also struggled with weight and has a different build than his sisters. Families don't always produce "matching sets" of children.
The final word on the OJ paternity rumor
So, is OJ Simpson Khloe Kardashian's dad? The evidence points to a resounding no.
- OJ Simpson denied it repeatedly until his death.
- Kris Jenner denied it in her book and on camera.
- DNA heritage tests confirmed Khloe has the Armenian markers she would only get from Robert Kardashian Sr.
- Robert Kardashian Sr. himself never legally questioned her paternity and treated her as his biological daughter until the day he died in 2003.
The rumor persists because it’s a "good story." It bridges two of the biggest pop culture eras in American history—the 90s true crime obsession and the 2000s reality TV boom. It turns a family tree into a mystery novel. But for the people involved, it’s just a tired, somewhat cruel allegation that ignores the reality of their family bond.
Actionable Insights for Fans and Fact-Checkers
If you find yourself down the rabbit hole of celebrity paternity conspiracies, here is how to navigate the noise:
- Check the Heritage: Look at the DNA results shared by the family on KUWTK and The Kardashians. Khloe’s Armenian DNA is the most definitive proof of Robert’s paternity.
- Consider the Timeline: Kris Jenner’s affair occurred around the time she was married to Robert, but her own accounts and the timelines of OJ’s marriage to Nicole don't align for a secret pregnancy in 1984.
- Understand Recessive Traits: Don't rely on "eye tests." Physical appearance is a combination of thousands of genetic variables. Being "the tall one" doesn't mean you have a different father.
- Respect the Legacy: Robert Kardashian Sr. is the only father Khloe has ever known. Regardless of internet theories, the legal and emotional reality is that he is her dad.
Moving forward, the best way to handle these rumors is to view them as what they are: tabloid fiction. While the Kardashian-Simpson connection will always be a fascinating piece of history, the paternity question has been answered by everyone who actually matters in the situation.
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