The vibes were definitely unexpected on this week’s episode of The Kardashians, when Caitlyn Jenner made a surprise appearance at a family dinner held to say goodbye to the Kardashian-Jenner family’s longtime Hidden Hills home.
The reunion, which aired Thursday, Oct. 30, marked Caitlyn’s first appearance on the Hulu reality series since it launched in 2022. The moment unfolded when Kris Jenner gathered the family in a circle before dinner and announced that someone important was missing from the farewell.
“One person isn’t here that should be here to say goodbye with us to this house,” Kris, 69, said, before revealing that she had invited Caitlyn, 76. The family was stunned — with Kylie, Kendall, Kim, and Kourtney all showing visible shock as Caitlyn walked in.
“This house holds so many memories,” Kris added. “It was our home. It wouldn’t feel right if Caitlyn wasn’t here too.”
Caitlyn agreed, adding, “That is so true,” before taking a seat with the family.
The surprise wasn’t planned far ahead. Kris revealed she had called Caitlyn only an hour earlier. “She said she was watching Fox News and eating dinner,” Kris recalled. “I said, ‘Would you like to come say goodbye to El Dorado Meadow with us?’ And she said yes.”
The moment brought up mixed feelings for some family members. Kendall, 29, admitted she didn’t expect her father to be there, saying the relationship between Kris and Caitlyn has remained “distant” for years. Still, she said the reunion made her happy.
“I always want to include her,” Kendall said, adding that while they sometimes clash, she knows her father “gets lonely” and that having her there “felt right.”
Khloé also acknowledged the emotional weight of the moment. In her confessional, she praised her mother for choosing healing over division.
“They didn’t have a good relationship for years after the divorce. The fact that my mom can put all of that behind her — just to create this moment — it’s really big of her,” Khloé said.
Kris and Caitlyn divorced in 2014 after 22 years of marriage. Caitlyn publicly came out as transgender the following year, and the family dynamic has shifted significantly since then.
Despite the awkwardness, dinner went ahead with polite conversation — including a spirited debate about whether Caitlyn would personally defend her Malibu home during wildfires.
After the meal, the family gathered for one last group photo in the home’s iconic entryway — and Caitlyn joined in. Kendall even had to remind her, gently, to put her phone away and smile.
Before leaving, Caitlyn shared hugs with Kris, Kylie, and Kendall. Kris called the night “a really great surprise for the kids,” and Caitlyn responded playfully, “You owe me one. Just kidding!”
As the episode wrapped, Kris reflected on the significance of the moment.
“This house saw everything — love, heartbreak, kids, chaos, joy. It feels right that Caitlyn was here too. It was her house once. And tonight felt like closing the door together.”
