Charity issues important statement after Khloe Kardashian sparks major debate over disabled family member Amari

An epilepsy charity has issued an official response after Kim Kardashian was seen asking her children if they were 'scared' of a disabled family member suffering from the condition.

The incident took place at a birthday party that Kim's sister Khloe had organised for 18-year-old Amari Thompson - the younger brother of her on-off partner Tristan Thompson.

The reality star's behaviour at the festivities, which aired during the latest instalment of The Kardashians, also sparked major backlash online, with some accusing the mother-of-two of virtue signalling.

Amari suffers from a severe form of epilepsy known as Lennox-Gastaut syndrome. The teenager was placed under his basketball star brother's legal guardianship last year following the death of their mother, Andrea, who suffered a heart attack in 2023.

In the episode, Kim could be seen attending the party that Khloe had organised at Amari's Hidden Hills home in California, along with her children: North, 11, Saint, eight, Chicago, seven, and Psalm, five.

There, the foursome were seen playing alongside Khloe and Tristan's two children, daughter True, six, and Tatum, two, as well as Kourtney Kardashian's daughter Penelope, 12, and Kylie Jenner's six-year-old daughter Stormi.

SKIMS boss Kim claims during a one-on-one interview that the children have a ‘lot of questions’ when it comes to Amari’s disability, adding that the group may ‘not be the most comfortable’ around him.

The episode then cuts to the soiree, where Kim can be seen asking her daughter Chicago if she was 'scared' of Amari, going on to add: "There’s no need to be, but it’s okay if you are."

Kim's remark has since been slammed online as 'tone deaf' by a number of critics, many of whom have also taken issue with the role Khloe played in the birthday celebrations.

One wrote on X (formerly Twitter): "Beautiful message just not something that’s needed to be filmed for profit."

Another added: "This is very sweet & I agree, however, I’m not sure if it was necessary to televise this moment. Their family has a history of exploiting each other so I always raise an eyebrow when it comes to their intentions."

A third continued: "Exploiting a child with epilepsy and dragging him in front of a camera just to have a storyline for your dumb show is vile.

"I truly hate this family."

A UK-based epilepsy charity has since caught wind of the online debate, and has issued a response in the form of a tweet.

Representatives from the MedCan Family Foundation - a patient organisation working with families living with complex severe treatment resistant epilepsy - penned a message of praise, directing it at Khloe.

"A profoundly heartfelt thank you to @khloekardashian," the message began. "For amplifying the reality of Lennox-Gastaut Syndrome.

"This rare, drug-resistant epilepsy, which impacts so many of the children we support, inflicts unimaginable trauma not only upon the child, but also upon their parents."

The statement continued: "Witnessing countless uncontrolled daily seizures, leaves parents utterly shattered and helpless.

"We continue our pursuit and the promise of innovative cannabinoid treatments, recognising their proven efficacy as a beacon of hope where traditional therapies have failed."

A charity spokesperson concluded the heartfelt message: "We will not relent until these life-altering solutions are accessible to every child in need."