Entertainment

Keeping Up With The Kardashians is OVER after 14 years on air, Kim announces


Kim Kardashian has announced that her family’s iconic reality show is over after 14 years on air. 

In an Instagram message posted on Tuesday, Kim, 39, wrote: ‘To our amazing fans – It is with heavy hearts that we’ve made the difficult decision as a family to say goodbye to Keeping Up with the Kardashians.

‘After what will be 14 years, 20 seasons, hundreds of episodes and numerous spin-off shows, we are beyond grateful to all of you who’ve watched us for all of these years – through the good times, the bad times, the happiness, the tears, and the many relationships and children. 

Shock announcement: Kim Kardashian revealed her family has made the 'difficult decision' to end Keeping Up With The Kardashians

Shock announcement: Kim Kardashian revealed her family has made the ‘difficult decision’ to end Keeping Up With The Kardashians

‘We’ll forever cherish the wonderful memories and countless people we’ve met along the way. Thank you to the thousands of individuals and businesses that have been a part of this experience,’ she wrote.

Kim added: ‘Most importantly, a very special thank you to Ryan Seacrest for believing in us, E! for being our partner, and our production team at Bunim/Murray, who’ve spent countless hours documenting our lives. 

‘Our last season will air early next year in 2021. Without Keeping Up with The Kardashians, I wouldn’t be where I am today. I am so incredibly grateful to everyone who has watched and supported me and my family these past 14 incredible years.’

‘This show made us who we are and I will be forever in debt to everyone who played a role in shaping our careers and changing our lives forever. With Love and Gratitude, Kim.’

Where it all began: Above is a picture of the first viewing party for Keeping Up with the Kardashians way back in 2007 ahead of it airing on E! for the first time

Where it all began: Above is a picture of the first viewing party for Keeping Up with the Kardashians way back in 2007 ahead of it airing on E! for the first time

Family statement: After Kim Kardashian posted, her family members quickly followed suit with a similar statement signed from the whole gang

Family statement: After Kim Kardashian posted, her family members quickly followed suit with a similar statement signed from the whole gang 

Emotional: Khloe poured her heart out on Twitter following the news

Emotional: Khloe poured her heart out on Twitter following the news 

The E! networks added in a statement, ‘E! has been the home and extended family to the Kardashian-Jenners for what will be 14 years, featuring the lives of this empowering family.’

‘Along with all of you, we have enjoyed following the intimate moments the family so bravely shared by letting us into their daily lives.’

‘While it has been an absolute privilege and we will miss them wholeheartedly, we respect the family’s decision to live their lives without our cameras. It is not our final goodbye yet, we are excited to have the new season of Keeping Up with the Kardashians launching on September 17 with the final season airing in 2021. 

Poor turn out: In April this year, it was reported that viewership had sunk to 871,000 viewers, making that episode the 4th lowest rated episode ever

Poor turn out: In April this year, it was reported that viewership had sunk to 871,000 viewers, making that episode the 4th lowest rated episode ever

The statement concluded: ‘We thank the entire extended family and our production partners, Bunim Murray and Ryan Seacrest Productions for embarking on this global phenomenon together.’

A similar statement to the one posted by Kim was then released by the family, which was signed off from Kris, Kourtney, Kim, Khloe, Rob, Kendall, Kylie and Scott. 

Khloe also tweeted: ‘The emotions are overflowing today… change is tough but sometimes needed. I can’t express how much I love and appreciate you guys.’

Caitlyn Jenner was not included in the statement however.   

While the show has undoubtedly had an extraordinary run, its more recent series have suffered poor ratings. 

In April this year, it was reported that viewership had sunk to 871,000 viewers, making that episode the 4th lowest rated episode ever.  

Stars were born: The show made names out of Kendall and Kylie Jenner who are now huge celebrities in their own right, with Kendall becoming a talented super model and Kylie a make-up mogul

Stars were born: The show made names out of Kendall and Kylie Jenner who are now huge celebrities in their own right, with Kendall becoming a talented super model and Kylie a make-up mogul

Reality royalty! The famous family are pictured at the Keeping Up with the Kardashians premiere in LA back in 2007, before they took over the world

Reality royalty! The famous family are pictured at the Keeping Up with the Kardashians premiere in LA back in 2007, before they took over the world 

At its peak, KUWTK earned E! its most-watched day ever, when 10.5 million viewers tuned in to watch Kim’s ill-fated wedding to Kris Humphries – the episode, Kim’s Fairytale Wedding: A Kardashian Event – Part 2, aired in 2011.

The show also had an endless supply of celebrity guest stars over the years, but most notably there were appearances from Hugh Hefner, Mel B, Kobe Bryant, Lindsay Lohan, Serena Williams, and even TV legend Oprah Winfrey. 

The series famously gained momentum after Kim gained notoriety for starring in a leaked, home-made sex tape with singer Ray J. 

Porn company Vivid Entertainment bought the rights to the tape for $1 million, and released the film under the title Kim Kardashian, Superstar in February.  

Breaking the news: Kim was the first person to reveal the show's demise, as she has always been the star of the series

Breaking the news: Kim was the first person to reveal the show’s demise, as she has always been the star of the series

Kim would later sue Vivid for ownership of the tape, but ended up settling for a reported $5 million. 

The controversy and notoriety surrounding the tape helped propel the start of the reality series. 

Ryan Seacrest decided to develop the idea after meeting with Kris Jenner, and has wanted to emulate the success of the popular family reality show The Osbournes.

Journey: Kim has shared most of her adult life so far on the show, including snippets of her wedding to husband Kanye West

Journey: Kim has shared most of her adult life so far on the show, including snippets of her wedding to husband Kanye West 

Famous: The show has certainly had a boost from the appearance of her husband Kanye West

Famous: The show has certainly had a boost from the appearance of her husband Kanye West

Thank you and goodnight! It will be interesting to see if the famous family find a new TV home for their shenanigans

Thank you and goodnight! It will be interesting to see if the famous family find a new TV home for their shenanigans 

Kim described the beginning of filming the show in an interview, saying: ‘When we first started [the show], we came together as a family and said, “If we’re going to do this reality show, we’re going to be 100 percent who we really are.”‘ 

Despite getting a bashing from the critics over the years, the reality series was nominated for, and won, several television awards. 

KUWTK has received nominations for a Teen Choice Award in the Choice TV: Celebrity Reality Show category nine consecutive times between 2008 and 2016, winning the award in 2010, 2013, 2014 and 2016. 

The show also won a People’s Choice Award as Favorite TV Guilty Pleasure in 2011. 

E! has previously stated that the show averages about 1 million viewers between the ages of 18 and 49.  

There have been 12 spin-off series on E! including, Kourtney and Khloe Take Miami, Kourtney and Kim Take New York, Kourtney and Kim Take Miami, Kourtney and Khloe Take the Hamptons, Khloe and Lamar, Sex with Brody, I Am Cait, DASH Dolls, Life of Kylie, Rob & Chyna, Revenge Body with Khloe Kardashian and Flip It Like Disick.

However, as the viewership has dipped, the family’s social media presence has only grown stronger – which could explain why fans are flocking to their Instagram Stories to get their fix, instead of the television show.

Between Kim, Kris, Kourtney, Khloe, Kendall, Kylie and Rob – the main family members collectively have over 782.4 million followers on Instagram alone. 

In May this year, streaming giant Netflix showed interest in the series as it announced it would be showing the series in the UK. 

It will certainly be interesting to see if the famous family decide to find a new home for their group shenanigans, or if they’ll got their separate ways.  



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