IT'S the reality show that gave us no-holds-barred access to a diamond heist at gunpoint, celebrity drug overdoses, DUIs and one of the biggest sex tape scandals in history.
But even the most loyal fans of The Kardashians – myself included – are beginning to speculate that the most famous family on the planet might be about to see their diamond-adorned reality kingdom crumble.
Having watched every single episode of Keeping Up With The Kardashians – as well as all of their recently rebranded Hulu shows on Disney+, The Kardashians – I consider myself somewhat of a superfan.
But this week when I sat down to watch the latest instalment of their reality show, I was honestly bored to tears.
The show that used to give us unfiltered access to the good, the bad and the ugly side of Kim Kardashian and her famous sisters now feels like nothing more than a series of 45-minute long PR reels advertising their various side hustles.
So far this season, we've seen fluffy scenes of Kim taking daughter North to a rage room, Khloe preparing for her 40th birthday and Kourtney discussing being a new mum (again).
And while the return of Lamar Odom in episode one was captivating for the 10 minutes he was on screen, the sisters were seemingly using old storylines to stir up new headlines with no real substance.
Meanwhile, the circus surrounding the family has reached fever pitch, with more controversies hitting reality matriarch Kim and her sisters than ever before.
Kanye West, father to Kim's four children, has yet to go a day this year without making international headlines for posting highly controversial and antisemitic rants on X.
What's more, just last week Kim was reportedly forced to stop her daughter North visiting the rapper after finding out he was hosting woman-hating influencers Andrew and Tristan Tate at his LA home.
It came just days after Kanye released a new song with P Diddy – who is currently in custody awaiting trial on charges of sex trafficking – featuring the couple's eldest daughter North without Kim's knowledge.
It's the latest in a long line of controversies surrounding West, who has long been accused of controlling his new wife Bianca Censoriand parading her around naked for well over 12 months.
Elsewhere, Kourtney Kardashian has been dragged into a fiery feud between stepdaughter Alabama Barker and rapper Bhad Bhabie, while fans have labelled North West's cameo in musician FKA Twigs' video as ‘inappropriate.'
Boring, staged storylines
Yet despite all the real-life drama surrounding the family – some of which was already bubbling away during filming last summer – the Kardashians seem unwilling to share what's really going on in their lives on their reality show anymore.
Instead, viewers are forced to watch boring, staged storylines such as Kendall and Kylie touring Kourtney's empty house and Khloe helping Scott Disick find a new personal assistant.
It feels like a blow to die-hard fans who have been invested in the show for decades because of its initial raw and brutal honesty – the thing that made all five sisters famous.
They are becoming more and more like plastic dolls that barely look human, and speak in a monotone voice, without any passion or humour like they used to.
Nick EdeBrand and Culture Expert
And I'm not the only one to think this way.
“Boring snooze-fest” commented one unimpressed viewer on X, while another added: “A lot of it is just Kim getting her makeup done and promoting their businesses.”
The show's ratings have been in steady decline for months now, too, with additional claims the family has become ‘unrelatable' tarnishing their once much-loved family brand.
Sources close to the family — made up of sisters Kourtney, 45, Kim, 44, Khloe, 40, Kendall, 29, and Kylie, 27 – say they are growing increasingly fearful their shine is fading, with some believing they have had their moment in the spotlight.
It's an issue that is said to be getting to ‘momager' Kris Jenner, 69, in particular.
A source said: “The pressure has been building for some time and there have been clear signs the show’s in trouble as ratings decline.
“Everyone in the family knows they can’t squeeze this lemon much longer as far as TV paydays go,”; they told In Touch.
‘Totally unrelatable' lifestyles
Brand and culture expert Nick Ede says the sisters’ unwillingness to open up on their real lives is a key reason the brand is stagnating.
He explained: “The storylines [recently] have all been the same — Kendall talks about anxiety, Khloe laments being a single mum, Kourtney’s more in love with Travis Barker than ever, Kim is working loads and Kylie remains elusive.
“All they do consistently is promote their businesses. Some episodes feel like one giant advert.
“Fans want to know the juicy drama with Kanye West and his wife Bianca, and Kylie’s relationship with Timothee Chalamet – but none of that gets shared.
“What’s more, Kylie keeps her kids out of it, as does Kim for the most part, so fans aren’t able to get to know the next generation.
“The thing is, they made their name by sharing everything.
“They also live lifestyles that are totally unrelatable.
“Their fans don’t have the same money as them or the freedom to work out for six hours a day.”;
Highlighting how followers are turning their backs on the famous family, Nick added: “The new season of the show is airing right now, but no one is talking about it because there’s nothing exciting going on.
“There was a time when each episode would make headlines around the world. Those days are gone.
“The financial repercussions will be massive.”;
Ruffling Gen Z feathers
But that is not the only reason the sisters’ star appeal seems to be fading.
Experts also think the sisters are struggling to secure a Gen Z following.
Young adults have begun criticising the family for upholding unrealistic body standards, ignoring the impact of their eco footprint by using private jets and staying quiet on political issues.
Kim and Khloe’s appearance at the £250million weekend wedding of Anant Ambani — son of India’s richest man — and Radhika Merchant, which was shown this season, also have ruffled feathers amid criticism about the lavish event in a country stricken by poverty.
Nick said: “Many young people now are against so much of what the Kardashians stand for, from cosmetic treatments to their lifestyle choices.
“They are becoming more and more like plastic dolls that barely look human, and speak in a monotone voice, without any passion or humour like they used to.
“They have very little to offer an ever-conscious Gen Z — storylines about Kim losing 16lb to fit into a Marilyn Monroe dress for the Met Gala simply will not impress.”;
Not buying it
Away from the show, the sisters are seeing less success with their own lifestyle brands, too.
When Forbes’ youngest self-made billionaire, Kylie Jenner, announced the launch of her clothing line, Khy, the internet was less than impressed.
One user scoffed: ‘The last thing we needed is another brand by you.”;
Some commented on Kylie’s lack of style credentials, while others blasted the introduction of another fast fashion brand.
Like her siblings before her — Khloe with Good American and Kim with Skims — Kylie was accused of ripping off a small designer, but did not respond to the claims.
Meanwhile, Kendall launched her 818 Tequila brand, but marketing it to an often booze-free generation has been tough.
And Kylie’s Sprinter Vodka Sodas launch in March caused little fanfare.
Nick said: “It went unnoticed in a market saturated with celebrity drinks.
“If fans don’t think the launch is authentic, they won’t buy it.”;
Even Kylie’s most lucrative business, her self-titled cosmetics line, has seen revenue drop by around half in just five years.
‘A cultural juggernaut'
Despite all of this, the sisters remain a major force in pop culture and experts believe they still have time to change their fortunes.
Nick said: “The Kardashains remain a cultural juggernaut and will keep a huge fan base, but they need to try to embrace the new generation – as well as opening up on the stories about them which are actually making headlines.
“They need to stop showing off their riches and bring things back to basics, showing personality and real-life situations.
“Fans want to see if they can go back to being the family we fell in love with.”;
