Kylie Jenner and Stassie Karanikolaou's Friendship Evolves, but the Duo Remains Close

Kylie Jenner and longtime confidante Anastasia "Stassie" Karanikolaou might not be as inseparable as they used to be, but there's no bad blood between them. A source close to the pair told us exclusively that Kylie and Stassie are still friends and their recent decrease in hangouts is simply due to different life paths rather than any underlying drama. The clarification comes after Karanikolaou skipped Jenner's 29th birthday celebration over the weekend to vacation in Ibiza with influencer Alix Earle, fueling speculation among fans about a possible falling out between the longtime friends who have been close since their teenage years. However, according to our source, the change is more a result of Jenner's current serious relationship and her increased social activities with partner Timothée Chalamet and other couples, than any tensions between the two friends. "Stassie is single, so she’s naturally been spending more time with friends who are in the same place in their lives, including Alix," the insider said. Earle and Karanikolaou have become a summer duo of sorts, frequently appearing together on social media while traveling and vacationing with friends, generating buzz among fans over their growing friendship. While Karanikolaou's Ibiza trip may have appeared to signal a shift in her relationship with Jenner, she took to Instagram to show her love for the Kylie Cosmetics founder on her birthday, writing "perfect girl i love you forever" in the comments section and adding "Happy birthday to my baby" on her Instagram Stories. Jenner reciprocated by sharing Karanikolaou's post on her own account with four pink heart emojis, putting any feud rumors to rest. Earle also addressed the speculation in a TikTok video earlier this week, stating "We’re going home in three days, we’re going to see everyone. My dog, our friends." Karanikolaou added, "We all love each other." Despite their once constant companionship, the source explained that any changes in their relationship might look more significant than they actually are because the duo used to be virtually inseparable. They traveled together frequently, worked together, made TikToks, and dressed alike - practically doing everything together. The pair met when they were around 12 or 13 years old and went on to become fixtures in each other's lives. The friends eventually took their relationship into business, teaming up for a Stassie x Kylie Cosmetics collection in 2022. However, the source noted that as their lives have evolved, their once nearly constant time together has become less frequent. "When you go from being together constantly to still being close but having your own lives and your own social circles, people are obviously going to notice it and assume something happened," the insider explained. "But that doesn't mean there was a fight." The source emphasized that Stassie spending more time with Alix does not mean she has replaced Kylie, and Kylie spending more time with couples does not mean she no longer cares about Stassie. "They still love each other and are still close," the source said. "They’re just not in the exact same place in life right now." Representatives for Jenner, Karanikolaou, and Earle did not immediately respond to our requests for comment.