The much-anticipated Season 7 of The Kardashians made its debut at the end of last month, offering fans another glimpse into the lives of the famous reality TV family. While the series predominantly highlights the women of the family, this season brings a notable change with Rob Kardashian’s return to the spotlight after a lengthy absence. Season 7 marks Rob’s first appearance on the Hulu show in several years, a significant moment for the series.

Rob’s last appearance on the family series was in 2017, a period when he decided to step back due to personal challenges. At that time, he was grappling with mental health issues and felt that being on camera wasn’t contributing positively to his well-being. Now, after an eight-year break, Rob is making a tentative return, a development his sister Kim Kardashian has addressed.

Kim has shared insights into Rob’s decision to rejoin the show, explaining that he finally feels ready to re-engage with the public eye. His return to the series is a testament to his personal growth and readiness to reconnect with both the family narrative and the audience that has followed their journey.

Kim Says Rob Is In A Better Mental Place Now

Rob originally made the decision to step away from the series in 2017 because he was struggling mentally and didn’t think filming was doing him much good. After Rob’s eight-year hiatus from the show, his elder sister Kim explained that he was finally feeling ready to dip his toes back into the scene.

She shared in a conversation with Andy Cohen, as reported by People, that Rob’s return for Season 9 was all his own choice:

“He wants to be on,” she assured Andy. “Obviously, we want to respect whoever doesn’t want to be on. All of us don’t have to have the same dreams and goals. So, he changed his up a little bit and now, he’s like, ‘I don’t mind it,’” she added.

Rob Says His Hiatus Didn’t Stem From Family Drama

Unlike what some fans may have thought, Rob’s choice to step away from the show for years wasn’t about feuding with family, but rather about choices that made him feel most at ease in his own life. He previously emphasized that there was “nothing wrong” about his relationship with his relatives, and in fact he often posts them on his personal Instagram page.

Via: Instar

Instead, Rob has noted that he can be rather shy, and that filming for TV doesn’t always make him feel his best:

Hopefully Rob’s recent return to The Kardashians won’t be the last we see of him.