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Mary Jo ‘MJ’ Shannon, Kris Jenner’s Mother and Kardashian-Jenner Matriarch, Dies at 91

Her passing has become a highly visible moment of public mourning because she was a family matriarch and a familiar presence on the family’s reality shows.

Overview

  • Kris Jenner announced the death of her mother in an emotional Instagram post on Thursday, saying MJ was “the heart of our family” and that the family had said goodbye.
  • Several daughters, including Kim, Khloé, Kourtney and Kylie, posted tributes on Instagram that shared memories and photos and generated widespread public condolences.
  • Kim Kardashian clarified that a lakeside photo gallery posted shortly after the announcement had been scheduled days earlier, responding to follower criticism about timing.
  • MJ built a life as a small-business owner in San Diego who ran a children’s boutique and later became a recurring, fan-favorite presence on Keeping Up With the Kardashians and The Kardashians, and she is credited with teaching younger family members business lessons.
  • The family has not released a cause of death, and coverage has focused on MJ’s legacy, the family’s public mourning on social media, and how celebrity posts are scrutinized during private loss.