Body language can reveal many truths about relationships — but only if you know how to read it. In Celebrity Couples: Decoded, an expert interprets A-listers’ interactions to shed light on their IRL dynamic.
After a whirlwind summer of travel together, Kourtney Kardashian, 39, and her 25-year-old model boyfriend Younes Bendjima, allegedly ended their fling, which dates back to December 2016 when reports of their courtship first surfaced.
But Instagram shade wasn’t the only sign their relationship was on the fringe, or perhaps, just a fling: Kourtney and Younes’s public appearances held all the hints, according to body language expert Blanca Cobb. Just look:
THEY LED WITH OPPOSITE LEGS WHEN THEY WALKED.
YOUNES KEPT HIS EYES OPEN WHEN KISSING KOURTNEY.
“Not only are Younes’s eyes open, but he appears distracted,” Cobb says, wondering WTF he could be thinking about while locking lips with his partner. Although he does lean toward Kourtney—which typically is a sign someone is into a kiss—he doesn’t appear to be caught up in the throes of passion in this particular moment. Meanwhile, Kourtney shuts her eyes and, from the looks of her raised cheeks, appears to be smiling. It’s plain to see their expressions are mismatched.
THEIR HANDHOLDING WASN’T EXACTLY INTIMATE.
“That’s more of a release than a hold,” Cobb says of Younes’s hand positioning. After all, his fingers are flailing. Meanwhile, Kourtney clutches on, curling her fingers around the back of her partner’s hand. Had she made less effort, Cobb notes, there would be no physical contact between them, leaving no evidence of an emotional connection.
THEY KEPT TO THEMSELVES WHILE SITTING SIDE-BY-SIDE.
In the public appearance above, Younes and Kourtney cozy up—sort of. Sure, there’s no space between them, which gives the illusion of emotional closeness, Cobb agrees. But instead of making skin-to-skin contact by holding hands, or even turning to face one another, both partners have their hands in their own laps and gaze forward, which makes them look disinterested in one another. And although couples who are in love and in sync tend to mimic each other’s body language, that’s not happening here as far as limb positioning goes: “Younes is comfy and confident with his manspread,” Cobb says, noting the way Kourtney’s perch is more formal, with her legs closed.
YOUNES HUNG BACK FROM KOURTNEY’S EMBRACE.
Above, Kourtney is letting the world know how she feels about Younes by facing him and wrapping both arms around his waist, Cobb notes before zeroing in on Younes. At first glance, yay! He has both hands on his partner, which Cobb considers considered a sweet gesture. However, here, his body is angled toward the camera rather than at Kourtney. “That’s a bit of adisconnect,” Cobb says, implying Younes may be less engaged in the relationship or this moment than with Kourtney.
YOUNES POINTED HIS FEET AWAY FROM KOURTNEY.
Younes doesn’t just look bored in this photo, according to Cobb—he angles both feet away from his partner rather than toward her, a red flag, since people tend to point their toes in the direction they want to go. Although he holds Kourtney’s hand, “Younes doesn’t seem to be enjoying his lady,” Cobb says before noting Kourtney’s stance: Her crossed legs hint at instability, and two-hand hold on Younes suggest she’s a little unsure of herself, according to Cobb.
THEY REMAINED OUT OF SYNC AFTER A YEAR AND A HALF.
Here, Younes walks ahead of Kourtney, a move that says, “I’m the man in charge” but doesn’t always bode well for relationships, according to Cobb. “And look at their mismatched stride,” she says. “This is screaming that they’re emotionally out of touch.”
Although it’s tough to tell what’s really going on behind a couple’s closed doors, the passion in this duo’s public interactions has long been lackluster compared to other lovebirds in the spotlight, according to Cobb. Throughout their relationship, Younes and Kourtney appear disjointed and apathetic, meaning their breakup should come as no surprise. The signs were all there!
From: Cosmopolitan
