Lamar Odom's kids detail decision to skip his wedding to Khloé Kardashian: 'I never even met her'

In a heart-wrenching revelation that has sent shockwaves through the entertainment world, the children of former NBA star Lamar Odom have finally broken their silence regarding their absence from one of the most publicized weddings in reality television history. For years, the narrative surrounding Lamar Odom and Khloé Kardashian’s 2009 whirlwind nuptials suggested a family divided by external gatekeeping. However, with the release of the new Netflix documentary, Untold: The Death and Life of Lamar Odom, Destiny and Lamar Odom Jr. are setting the record straight. Their accounts paint a picture of a ceremony that was not just rushed but entirely alienating to the groom’s own flesh and blood, with Lamar Jr. famously stating that he had never even met the bride before the world watched them exchange vows.

Lamar Odom’s kids skipped his 2009 wedding to Khloé Kardashian primarily because of a lack of communication and discomfort with the media circus. Lamar Jr. revealed that he had never met Khloé before the wedding and was not even told his father was getting married. Destiny Odom explained that she refused to be a "show pony" for the Keeping Up With The Kardashians cameras, preferring to avoid a staged television event involving someone she had no prior relationship with. While Lamar originally claimed their mother, Liza Morales, prevented their attendance, the children now clarify that the decision was rooted in the impulsive, public nature of the relationship.

The Whirlwind Romance: 30 Days to I Do

The relationship between Lamar Odom and Khloé Kardashian is often cited as the ultimate example of a Hollywood whirlwind. Meeting at a party in August 2009, the pair felt an immediate connection that defied logic and traditional dating timelines. Within just three weeks, Odom had proposed, and a mere nine days after that engagement, the two were standing at the altar in Beverly Hills. While the public was captivated by the romantic speed of the affair, those closest to Lamar were left reeling from the suddenness of the transition.

For a professional athlete at the height of his career with the Los Angeles Lakers, the move into the Kardashian orbit was more than just a marriage; it was a total immersion into a new kind of celebrity. This rapid escalation left very little room for the integration of Lamar’s existing life, specifically his children. The documentary highlights how the speed of the wedding effectively locked out the people who mattered most to Lamar before the fame reached its peak.

LJ Odom Jr.’s Candid Confession: I Never Even Met Her

Perhaps the most jarring detail to emerge from the documentary is from Lamar Odom Jr., who was just a young boy at the time of the wedding. Reflecting on that period, LJ reveals a staggering lack of transparency from his father. "I never even met her," he admits during a confessional. This statement highlights a massive disconnect in the family dynamic, where a father is legally binding himself to a stranger without introducing her to his son.

LJ further explains that he wasn't even aware a wedding was taking place until it was essentially a fait accompli. The lack of a relationship with Khloé meant there was no emotional foundation for him to attend such a high-stakes event. This revelation directly contradicts the "unhappy family" narrative often pushed by tabloids, suggesting instead that the absence was a natural consequence of being excluded from the process entirely.

Destiny Odom on Avoiding the Media Circus: Not a Show Pony

Lamar’s daughter, Destiny Odom, who was slightly older than her brother during the 2009 nuptials, provides a more analytical perspective on her decision to stay away. For Destiny, the issue wasn't just the lack of a relationship with Khloé, but the environment in which the wedding was being held. The ceremony was a massive production for E! Network, filmed for a special episode of Keeping Up With The Kardashians.

"I just didn't wanna be a show pony or anything like that," Destiny explains. Her use of the term "show pony" suggests an awareness, even at a young age, that her presence would be used to validate a television narrative rather than celebrate a genuine family union. She noted that if her father wanted to get married in front of a hundred people and cameras, that was his choice, but she felt no obligation to participate in a staged event for a woman she did not know.

Lamar Odom’s Version vs. Reality: The Gatekeeper Conflict

For over a decade, Lamar Odom maintained a specific version of why his children weren't present. In various interviews and even within the documentary itself, Lamar initially blames his ex-partner, Liza Morales. "My baby’s mother didn't let my children come to my wedding," he claimed, painting Liza as the vindictive ex-wife who used the children as pawns.

However, the documentary provides a rare opportunity for the children to correct the record in front of their father. By sharing their personal feelings about the "show pony" atmosphere and the lack of an introduction, they shift the responsibility back to Lamar’s impulsive decision-making. The "gatekeeper" narrative, it seems, was a convenient way for Lamar to process the guilt of his children’s absence without acknowledging the chaos his own choices had created.

Perspective	Reasoning for Wedding Absence
Lamar Odom (Original Claim)	Claimed Liza Morales blocked the children from attending.
Lamar Odom Jr. (LJ)	Had never met Khloé and wasn't told about the wedding.
Destiny Odom	Refused to be a "show pony" for reality TV cameras.
Liza Morales	Felt the 30-day timeline was a joke and too public.

Liza Morales Breaks Her Silence on the Text Message Wedding

Liza Morales, Lamar’s long-term partner and the mother of his children, also features heavily in the documentary, offering a perspective on the emotional toll the 2009 wedding took on her. She describes receiving the news of the marriage via a casual text message, a move she initially thought was a prank. "I really thought he was joking," she says, reflecting on the absurdity of a high-school sweetheart and long-term partner finding out about a legal marriage through a mobile phone screen.

Morales explains that the pain wasn't just about the marriage itself, but the public humiliation that followed. The wedding became a tabloid fixture, making it impossible for her to move on or shield the children from the spectacle. She noted that seeing the marriage on every magazine cover at the pharmacy made the healing process significantly harder, as the "rushed" nature of the event felt like a dismissal of their decade-long history together.

The Broader Family Exclusion: Aunt Janean’s Perspective

The children weren't the only ones left out of the 2009 ceremony. Lamar’s aunt, Janean Mercer, who had been a parental figure to him following the death of his mother, also revealed she was snubbed. "None of us were invited," she states bluntly in the documentary. This suggests a total blackout of Lamar’s biological family in favor of the production-heavy Kardashian circle.

The exclusion of his extended family points to the intense pressure Lamar was under to conform to the requirements of the television show. Aunt Janean hinted that invitations might have been withheld because the family might have protested the union or the speed at which it was occurring. This collective snubbing highlights the isolation Lamar experienced as he transitioned from NBA star to reality TV icon.

Life Under the Kardashian Spotlight: The Toll on the Children

While they missed the wedding, Destiny and LJ could not escape the marriage. As Khloé and Lamar became a household name, the children were forced to navigate their father’s new life from the sidelines. LJ admits there were perks, such as the legendary Kardashian Christmases and the high-end gifts from Kris Jenner, but the emotional cost was high. They watched their father’s struggles with substance abuse and infidelity play out on a global stage.

The documentary explores how the children had to grow up fast, often taking on parental roles for their father during his darkest moments. Destiny speaks about the difficulty of seeing her father "under attack" or being used for storylines while he was clearly suffering. The media circus they avoided at the wedding eventually became the backdrop of their entire adolescence, proving that their initial instincts to stay away were perhaps more prophetic than anyone realized.

Healing and the Path Forward: Where the Family Stands Today

Despite the trauma of the past, the Odom family appears to be in a season of reconciliation. The documentary concludes on a hopeful note, showing Lamar bonding with LJ over video games and maintaining a respectful, if not perfect, relationship with Destiny. Lamar has expressed deep regret over "stepping out" on his marriage vows to Khloé, but he seems equally committed to making amends with his children for the years of chaos.

For Destiny and LJ, the documentary serves as a final act of reclaiming their own narrative. By explaining why they skipped the wedding, they are no longer just "Lamar’s kids" in the background of a Kardashian episode; they are individuals who made a stand for their own emotional well-being. As Lamar continues his journey of sobriety and self-discovery, the bond with his children remains his most significant, and perhaps most challenging, achievement.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why did Lamar Odom's kids not attend his wedding to Khloé Kardashian?

They skipped the wedding because they had never met Khloé Kardashian before the event and felt uncomfortable being filmed for a reality TV show. Destiny Odom specifically mentioned she didn't want to be a "show pony" for the cameras.

Did Lamar Odom's son LJ ever meet Khloé Kardashian before the wedding?

No, Lamar Jr. (LJ) stated in the Netflix documentary that he had never met Khloé before the marriage and wasn't even told that his father was getting married until it happened.

Who is the mother of Lamar Odom's children?

The mother of Destiny and Lamar Jr. is Liza Morales, who was Lamar Odom's long-term partner for ten years before his marriage to Khloé Kardashian.

What is the name of the documentary about Lamar Odom?

The documentary is titled "Untold: The Death and Life of Lamar Odom," and it premiered on Netflix on March 31, 2026.

How long did Lamar Odom and Khloé Kardashian date before marrying?

The couple dated for approximately 30 days before getting married in September 2009.

Conclusion

The story of Lamar Odom’s children skipping his wedding to Khloé Kardashian is no longer a mystery of "parental interference," but a testament to the boundaries children set in the face of overwhelming celebrity. By revealing that they had never met the bride and refused to be part of a televised spectacle, Destiny and LJ Odom have provided a sobering look at the human cost of reality TV fame. Their honesty in the "Untold" documentary marks a pivotal moment in the family's history, allowing them to move past the shadows of the Kardashian era and build a future based on transparency and genuine connection. As they continue to support their father through his recovery, their strength remains the true "untold" story of Lamar Odom’s life.

Lamar Odom's kids detail decision to skip his wedding to Khloé Kardashian: 'I never even met her'

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