Lamar Odom doc sparks debate over Khloé Kardashian’s role in his darkest moment

A new Netflix documentary on Lamar Odom is reigniting debate around his 2015 overdose, but this time, much of the focus has shifted to Khloé Kardashian.

The Death & Life of Lamar Odom, part of the Untold series, revisits the former NBA star’s near-fatal collapse at a Nevada brothel. But beyond the headlines, viewers are now re-examining Kardashian’s role during one of the most chaotic periods of his life.

From reality TV drama to crisis control

At the time, Kardashian’s relationship with Odom played out largely through tabloid coverage, often framed as another chapter in the Kardashian media cycle.

The documentary presents a more complex picture.

Kardashian describes actively trying to manage Odom’s spiralling addiction, from searching for him during disappearances to intervening during drug-related incidents. She recalls paying people to keep stories out of the press and attempting to shield him from public fallout.

“I felt such a responsibility to cover this up, hold it together and protect him,” she says in the film.

The moment everything changed

In October 2015, Odom was found unresponsive after days of heavy drug use. He suffered kidney failure, multiple heart attacks and multiple strokes, and was placed in a medically induced coma.

Because their divorce had not yet been finalised, Kardashian remained his next of kin, allowing her to make critical medical decisions during his hospitalisation.

According to the documentary, she intervened at a crucial moment in his treatment, a detail that has resurfaced in online discussions following the film’s release.

Protector or enabler?

The documentary does not offer a clear answer.

Kardashian reflects on her actions with hindsight, suggesting she may have enabled aspects of Odom’s addiction while trying to protect him.

That tension has become a key talking point among viewers, with some seeing her as a stabilising force during his collapse, while others question whether the dynamic prolonged his struggles.

A narrative shift

Odom’s story has often been framed as a cautionary tale of fame and addiction.

But the documentary complicates that narrative, repositioning Kardashian from a background figure in a celebrity scandal to someone deeply involved in managing its consequences.

As the film gains traction, the conversation is shifting. It is no longer just about what happened to Lamar Odom, but about how Khloé Kardashian’s role is being understood now.