Kim Kardashian cites ‘irreconcilable differences’ in Kanye West divorce papers

Reality TV star has requested joint legal and physical custody of their four children

Kim Kardashian has cited “irreconcilable differences” as the reason behind her divorce from rapper Kanye West, after seven years of marriage.

The Evening Standard reports that Kardashian filed divorce papers with an LA court, which also confirmed that she has requested joint custody of the couple’s four children, North, Saint, Chicago and Psalm.

Kardashian filed for divorce earlier in February, following months of speculation over one of the world’s most high-profile celebrity couples.

She has hired lawyer Laura Wasser, known for her work on celebrity divorce cases.

TMZ reported this month that Kardashian, 40, and West, 43, have already begun reaching a property settlement agreement, with the outlet citing sources who described the divorce proceedings as “amicable”.

Kardashian began dating West in 2012, while she was still legally married to professional basketball player Kris Humphries.

She married West two years later, in a lavish ceremony held in Florence, Italy.

Their relationship regularly made headlines, but speculation over the state of their marriage intensified last year, when West announced his intention to run for US president.

During an early campaign event in South Carolina, West caused concern with his rambling speech in which he tearfully told audience-members that he and Kardashian had considered aborting their first child.

Shortly after the incident, he went on a Twitter tirade and accused his wife of trying to get him “locked up” by doctors, and revealed he had previously sought a divorce.

West later issued a public apology to Kardashian, while she defended him and addressed his battle with bipolar disorder.

The 20th and final season of Keeping Up with the Kardashians – the reality series that made Kim a household name – is due to air next month. It is unclear whether the series will include further details of the split.