Robert Kardashian Sr. Tribute Event Included Reality Cameras and a Kanye West Song -- But No Kim
The late Robert Kardashian Sr. was honored at the Angel Ball in New York City on Monday, where his former wife, Kris Jenner, as well as his daughters, Khloe and Kourtney Kardashian, turned out to celebrate his life and memory.
ET was inside the event where Kris, Khloe and Kourtney were joined at their table by Kris' boyfriend, Corey Gamble, and family friend Jonathan Cheban, while the Keeping Up With the Kardashian cameras rolled during the gala.
One famous family member noticeably absent was Kim Kardashian. Prior to the event, Kim was rumored to also be attending, marking one of her first major public appearances since being robbed at gunpoint in Paris back in October.
However, the 36-year-old mother of two reportedly skipped the event to head back to Los Angeles following husband Kanye West's hospitalization.
The charity gala, which benefits Gabrielle's Angel Foundation for Cancer Research, memorialized Robert Sr.'s life in a tribute video, set to Kanye West's song "Only One," which featured home videos of the famed attorney. The emotional tribute brought tears to Jenner's eyes before she took the stage to accept an award on Robert's behalf.
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"One of the things he used to teach me and passed down to our children was about philanthropy and about giving and about doing it diligently, constantly, joyfully and generously," Kris shared of her ex-husband, who died of esophageal cancer in 2003. "He taught me and them that no matter what you do in life -- and he would have been very proud of us -- and what you make, you give back and you do it without saying a word."
Kris went on to explain that the Kardashian family is often criticized for not giving back or not using their fame for good, but that they are very generous "often silently," and "for things that don't need a loud voice."
"After hearing so many stories tonight and so many wonderful outcomes, I'm really glad that we can be a voice," Kris concluded. "Tonight what we do may be very small, but we intend on doing it year after year."
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Kris also paid tribute to her mom, Mary Jo Campbell, who is a cancer survivor. "She survived colon cancer, breast cancer, with many, many treatments along the way," Kris recounted, before thanking the many medical professionals who work with Gabrielle's Angel Foundation for all their hard work battling cancer.
Kris, Khloe and Kourtney later presented the foundation with a $250,000 check, which goes towards the charity's goal of finding new treatments and cures for cancer.
Before the event, Kris spoke with ET about her daughter and son-in-law, telling ET that Kim is taking her emotional recovery "one step at a time." Check out the video below to hear more.
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