Kanye West is dating Julia Fox "to get under [Kim Kardashian West's] skin".
The 44-year-old rap star recently started dating the 31-year-old actress, but according to an insider, Kanye is simply trying to provoke his estranged wife.
A source explained: "It's a desperate play for attention. There's no other explanation when he chooses… [Julia] to go public with."
The outspoken rapper is still said to be hurting after Kim, 41 - who has North, eight, Saint, six, Chicago, three, and Psalm, two, with Kanye - started dating comedian Pete Davidson.
Another source told the New York Post newspaper's Page Six column: "He publicly fights for his family back, and then he's linked to all these different girls. It's very strange."
Meanwhile, Kim's friends think Pete has been "exactly what she needed" after her split from Kanye.
The comedian - who has previously dated the likes of Kate Beckinsale and Kaia Gerber - is helping the TV star to move on from her turbulent marriage.
An insider recently said: "He's exactly what Kim needed after her divorce - someone to make her laugh and just have a fun time with.
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"The end of her marriage was a very dark time for her and Pete has been the best antidote."
Pete, 28, is determined to make their romance his number one priority.
The Saturday Night Live star has been making frequent trips between Los Angeles and New York over recent weeks, and he's constantly referring to Kim as "my girl".
Speaking about their romance, the insider said: "He's flying back and forth and spending more time in LA when he can to see Kim. He's so into her and is always 'my girl' this and 'my girl' that."