Kim Kardashian pays emotional tribute to late childhood friend

Eight months after losing one of her dearest childhood friends, Kim Kardashian is opening up in a deeply personal and heartfelt tribute. On Saturday, July 5, the 44-year-old media mogul honored Lindsay May Palevsky, a lifelong friend and beloved member of her tight-knit circle known as the "Lifers," on what would have been her birthday.

"It was just your birthday and I know you never liked to make a big deal of it, but Happy Heavenly Birthday, Lindz," Kim wrote in an Instagram post filled with nostalgia, love, and raw grief.

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 Kim revealed she had waited months to post about Lindsay's passing, unsure how to express the profound void left behind.

A Friendship That Started Young

Lindsay Palevsky wasn't a celebrity, but she was deeply known and loved by Kim and her closest inner circle. The two met as kids and stayed bonded through every significant chapter of life, from school days and teenage dreams to motherhood and fame.

In her tribute, Kim reflected on their annual "Lifers" lake trip, a tradition Lindsay adored. "The lake was your happy place. It made you feel lighter, healthier … you were you," Kim wrote. "It'll always be our favorite Lifers tradition... We felt your absence this year in every sunset, every laugh, every quiet moment."

The post included sweet, unfiltered throwback images and videos of Lindsay celebrating birthdays by the water, surrounded by laughter, cake, and longtime friends.

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The Quiet Moments That Hurt the Most

 Kim described the silence that now fills their group chat, saying, "Nothing really captures how quiet and empty our Lifers chat feels without you in it." She admitted that Lindsay, who didn't care for social media, would have probably rolled her eyes at Kim's public post, but the lake trip, a tradition they fiercely protected, made her feel Lindsay's presence everywhere. "I couldn't go through this lake trip without feeling you everywhere, and I needed to share it."

It's in these personal, shared rituals,  like the lake trip or lighting birthday candles, that grief shows up the loudest. And Kim isn't the only one who felt it.

The 'Lifers' Keep Her Spirit Alive

Another member of the Lifers, celebrity stylist Simone Harouche, also shared her tribute from the lake. In a moving Instagram post, she revealed that Kim brought a purple cake in Lindsay's honor, and the bakery accidentally spelled her name wrong.

"We all laughed because we knew you'd be laughing about it too," Simone wrote. "G-d how I miss hearing you laugh." She also noted that all the kids, many of whom have grown up together during the trips, were present again this year. "I know that would've made you so happy to see that, Lindz. They are all getting so big!!"

A Legacy That Goes Beyond Friendship

Lindsay May Palevsky passed away on November 2, 2024, after battling a rare form of cancer for over a decade. Though she was a private person, her presence in Kim's life, and occasionally on "The Kardashians," made her known to fans as part of the core group that grounded Kim outside of fame.

Last year, Citizens of Humanity even created a special tribute in her honor, releasing a limited-edition pair of jeans called "The Lindz". A portion of the proceeds was donated to the Neuroendocrine Tumor Research Foundation, supporting efforts to fight the disease that took her life.

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Kim ended her post with a message encapsulating how deeply her friend is missed: "I feel so grateful for all the memories we made. We miss you so f---ing much, Lindz. Our world is not the same without you... We'll always have the lake — and in that, we'll always have a piece of you."

This tribute hits home for anyone who's ever lost someone who felt like the glue of a friend group. It's a celebration of friendship, memory, tradition, and how we hold onto love long after someone dies.

Rest in peace, Lindsay.