Tristan Thompson's Many Cheating Scandals Explained
By now, acknowledging Tristan Thompson as a serial cheater is like saying water makes you wet. The NBA star was unfaithful to Khloé Kardashian several times over the course of their relationship, leading the reality star to break up with Thompson for good in late 2021. These days, the two aren't anything more than amicable co-parents. Kardashian regularly includes Thompson in their daughter True's life, and has taken the high road by refusing to bad-mouth her ex, as she explained on "The Drew Barrymore Show." "[You] never speak poorly about someone that you have a child with," Kardashian said. Rather than slam her ex, she prefers not to give the press any ammunition to demonize him. During an ABC News special in April, when asked about Thompson, Kardashian said, "I still think he's a great guy, and he's a great dad. He's just not the guy for me."
As of this writing, Kardashian has seemingly moved on with a private equity investor, whom she met through big sister Kim. As for Thompson, he's living his best life in Mykonos, Greece, where he's been spotted partying with a bevy of ladies. His behavior has raised eyebrows, as he and Kardashian are expecting the arrival of their second child by surrogate any day now. Consequently, many fans are wondering, will Kardashian raise their child by herself? Ahead of the due date, let's take a look back at the cheating scandals that led Thompson and Kardashian to go their separate ways.
Tristan Thompson cheated on Khloé Kardashian with Jordyn Woods
Tristan Thompson raised eyebrows in 2018 when Us Weekly reported that he was spotted getting handsy with two women at NBA All-Star Weekend. After they took off for a hookah lounge, a source told the outlet, "Tristan was flirting ... and didn't look or act like someone who had a pregnant girlfriend." Khloé Kardashian gave birth to True roughly two months later, in April. Days before she went into labor, Thompson was spotted partying in NYC with a mystery brunette — later identified as Laini Blair — whom he kissed on camera, per the Daily Mail. As fans reeled with news of Thompson's infidelity, more videos leaked from sites like The Shade Room, claiming to show the NBA player cheating with multiple women. Kardashian later confirmed these reports and forgave Thompson, but their troubles were far from over.
Perhaps the most dramatic cheating instance came in February 2019, when TMZ reported that Thompson was all over Jordyn Woods at a house party. Gossip site Hollywood Unlocked corroborated TMZ's report, adding that the two were "touchy feely" and stayed together overnight. The whole thing was so scandalous because Woods used to be one half of an inseparable duo with Kardashian's half sister, Kylie Jenner. When the KarJenner clan found out, they immediately cut Woods out of the fold. The aftermath was chronicled on "Keeping Up With the Kardashians," and Woods shared her side of the story on Jada Pinkett Smith's "Red Table Talk."
Tristan Thompson fathered a child with Maralee Nichols
In April 2021, Tristan Thompson was once again accused of cheating on Khloé Kardashian, this time with Instagram model Sydney Chase. Per The U.S. Sun, Chase appeared on the podcast "No Jumper," where she claimed to have hooked up with Thompson in January. "I did not know he was in a relationship. He told me he was not in a relationship anymore," she said. In an Instagram Live, Chase also read out messages from Thompson, in which the NBA star told her she was "his type" (via The U.S. Sun).
Even so, Kardashian and Thompson were back on in the summer. For the Good American founder, the final straw came when she discovered that Thompson had fathered a child with fitness trainer Maralee Nichols, who gave birth in December. Though Thompson denied the allegations, a paternity test confirmed the results — which meant that he had conceived the child back in March. On Instagram, Thompson wrote, "Today, paternity test results reveal that I fathered a child with Maralee Nichols. I take full responsibility for my actions. Now that paternity has been established, I look forward to amicably raising our son."
Kardashian may have remained with Thompson for the sake of their daughter, True, but there were red flags throughout their relationship. (Per Metro UK, the two also got together when Thompson's ex-girlfriend, Jordan Craig, was six months pregnant with his child.) After the rollercoaster romance, there's no doubt fans are hoping for Kardashian's happily ever after.