It’s been a long, wildly successful run, but Keeping Up With The Kardashians (KUWTK) is coming to an end.
In an Instagram post on Tuesday (September 8), Kim Kardashian announced the reality show starring herself and sisters Khloe Kardashian, Kourtney Kardashian, Kylie Jenner and Kendall Jenner will air its 20th and final season in early 2021.
“It is with heavy hearts that we’ve made the difficult decision as a family to say goodbye to Keeping Up with the Kardashians,” she wrote. “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. We’ll forever cherish the wonderful memories and countless people we’ve met along the way.”
View this post on InstagramTo 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. 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 and, 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
The decision to end the long-running show comes amid Kardashian’s husband Kanye West having a public battle with his mental health, during which Kardashian asked fans for “compassion and empathy” as they navigate through it.
“Those that understand mental illness or even compulsive behavior know that the family is powerless unless the member is a minor,” Kim wrote on her Instagram Story in July amid rumors she was going to divorce him for his erratic behavior. “People who are unaware or far removed from this experience can be judgmental and not understand that the individual themselves have to engage in the process of getting help no matter how hard family and friends try.”
She show premiered on E! in 2007, going on to become the network’s highest-rated show, bringing in an average of 1.9 million total viewers an episode at its peak. Over the course of 14 years, rappers like Tyga (when he dated Kylie), French Montana (when he dated Khloe) and Kanye have appeared on the show through their relationships with the famous sisters, though Kylie Jenner’s on-again/off-again boyfriend Travis Scott has opted not to appear on camera.
Like Scott, Kanye opted to remain mainly off-camera since he began dating Kardashian in 2012, but he’s become a regular since season 16.
“He doesn’t like to film everything,” Kardashian told the Hollywood Reporter in 2017. “It’s not his show.”
KUTWK has also produced numerous spin-offs since its years on air including Khloe & Lamar when Khloe was married to NBA star Lamar Odom and Rob & Chyna, when rarely-seen Kardashian brother Rob was dating Blac Chyna.
Before the final season, KUWTK will premiere season 19 on September 17. Revisit some of French, Ye and Tyga’s moments on the show below.