Rob Kardashian continues to live life totally under the radar and his mom Kris Jenner would love to get him out of his shell and onto TV – not least because she figures he’ll be great for ratings, a source exclusively tells In Touch.
“Kris is trying to light a fire under Rob to get him to start living life again, she never imagined when he stepped back from the show that he’d still be hiding out at home all these years later,” the insider says.
Since Keeping Up With the Kardashians ended its run, Rob, 37, has virtually isolated himself from the outside world, except for when he sees his eight-year-old daughter by ex Blac Chyna, Dream.
The only Kardashian son was always a little camera shy, never fully indulging in the reality fame that came along with the show’s success, as his sisters did. Though, as of late, his reclusiveness has got his family worried for his wellbeing.
“It’s the biggest heartbreak of her life,” the source adds, “and she’s desperate to convince him to come out of his shell.”
These days, Rob is close with only one of his siblings, Khloé Kardashian, whose house is one of the only places outside of his own he’ll go to, and usually only to bring Dream over to visit her aunty, according to a second source who previously talked to In Touch about their home situation.
“Rob lives for his little girl, Dream,” that source said. “She’s the absolute center of his world, and he spends most of his time with her either at his house or over at Khloé’s.” However, “When Khloé wants to take the kids out anywhere, 99 percent of the time Rob refuses to go.” A fact that ultimately comes down to the former reality star having spent decades airing his life for the world to see, which has made him “terrified of being out in public and getting recognized or photographed.”
Despite the agoraphobia, which is likely warranted considering how roughly the public and media treated Rob during the run of their show, mom Kris “wants him to start making more appearances,” the first source says, adding, “She’s sure it will be good for his state of mind to be out and about more and even participate more in the show because the fans really want to see him.”
With a new, gentler approach to reality TV that involves a whole lot less drama and hate, “She says he’ll be shocked by how excited everyone will be and how positive it will be for him overall. She would love to see him start posting more on social media, too.”
Though, always the momager, the source is keen to note that “the fact is, the franchise could really use his help so she’s also taking that angle and betting him to step up and help the family out.”
“Kim and Kourtney [Kardashian] have been telling her for years that she’s just enabling Rob by letting him get away with his reclusive life and Kris is finally starting to see their point.”