Khloe Kardashian 'freaked out' after verbal attack by ex-husband Lamar Odom outside LA gym

Reality star Khloe Kardashian is said to be shaken up after she was allegedly verbally attacked by her ex-husband Lamar Odom. The incident was reportedly sparked by the NBA star's jealousy over his former spouse's new romance with basketball player James Harden.

A photo has emerged of the moment Odom, 35, allegedly ambushed Kardashian, 31, outside the SoulCycle gym in Beverly Hills, California, at approximately 6:45am on 12 August. TMZ reports that the former LA Lakers player, who separated from Kardashian in 2013, began screaming at the Keeping Up With The Kardashians star and demanding that she talk to him.

However, as the reality star tried to walk away, an eyewitness alleges that Odom grabbed her arm prompting her to yell: "Get off of me, get off of me. Stop. Stop." Another eyewitness claims that when they asked Kardashian if she would like the police to be called, the basketball player said: "You're not going to call the cops on Lamar Odom."

When the TV star asked her ex-husband: "How did you know I was here?" he is said to have given a mumbled response. The website reveals that Kardashian was "freaked out" by the incident and ran to her car before driving off. Another insider has now told People magazine that Odom has found it difficult coping with Kardashian's new relationship with Houston Rockets player Harden, who joined her at the 18th birthday party of her younger sister Kylie Jenner earlier in the week.

The source said: "Lamar has been trying to contact Khloe, but she is done and has ignored him. Lamar has issues with Khloe dating [James] Harden. It made Khloé first shocked and then scared that Lamar was waiting outside the studio. She doesn't know how he found her. She is thinking about getting a bodyguard."

The E! star's older sister Kim Kardashian is also said to have grown concerned over Odom's behaviour and has encouraged her to hire protection. They said: "Kim is encouraging her to get a bodyguard. She told Khloé that his behavior is inappropriate, and she needs to nip it in the bud before it escalates. Khloé is in full agreement, and they're going to start looking into private security right away. Kim says that there's no reasoning with Lamar right now, so it's better to be safe than sorry."

In July 2015, reports emerged that both Kardashian and Odom had finally signed divorce papers finalising their separation after she initially filed the documents in December 2013. IBTimes UK have contacted Kardashian and Odom's reps for comment.