16 Cringe-y Details About Kim Kardashian's Sex Tape
Happy Anniversary, Kim Kardashian, Superstar.
weheartit How do you celebrate the release of a sex tape, anyway? For Kim Kardashian West, it may be looking at her bank balance or giving gratitude to the mysterious powers that be. Though she may have initially tried to stop its release, the video helped her become more famous and wealthy than she ever thought possible.
The Kim Kardashian sex tape transformed American culture, causing these private tapes to go from being a source of shame and embarrassment to becoming a ticket to fame, fortune, and success. Before the tape, Kim was known for being Paris Hilton's bestie, and afterward, became one of the most successful and influential businesswomen in the world.
But let's look at some of the super-cringy details of the sex tape that changed everything:
1. On average, someone watches the tape every 1.5 seconds.
Oh, look someone just watched the tape... and another person... and again and again. The public is still thirsty for this tape and hasn't slowed down yet. Many people aren't satisfied with one viewing and watch it repeatedly. For some people, it's their go-to tape to masturbate to.
2. Counting all the platforms that the tape is on, it's been viewed over 210 million times.
No matter what your platform is — online, DVD, or VividTV — you can find this tape. To put this into perspective, only 139 million people voted in the 2016 Presidential Elections.
3. Kim has made over $110 million from the tape.
Neither Kim or Ray J (her on-screen partner) made that kind of money, but they both have done pretty well by it. Kim made a cool $4.5 million from selling the rights and she and Ray J get quarterly royalties. With the tape and her subsequent reality show Keeping up with the Kardashians, Kim went from being a relative unknown to building the huge brand we know now.
4. Kim lied about the tape.
In a Complex interview in 2007, Kim emphatically denied the existence of a sex tape. "There's no sex tape! Ray J's not the kind of guy who would do something for revenge," Kim said. "There is no amount of money that could ever convince me to release any tape, even if I had one. I don't need the money."
5. The footage was shot in 2003 during a trip to Mexico to celebrate Kim's 23rd birthday.
In some ways, Kim will be 23 forever.
6. Ray J went from being famous for being Brandy's brother to being famous for being Kim's well-endowed lover.
Ray J thought that the tape would finally bring him the recognition that he desired, but much to his disappointment, it didn't. While the public was impressed by his gigantic penis, they were more interested in Kim's assets.
7. Ray J wrote a song about being "first."
The video for Ray J's single "I Hit It First" shows him with a Kim Kardashian West look-a-like. It's a pretty pathetic attempt to squeeze some attention and glory from the sex tape. Though he doesn't specifically say "Kim Kardashian," it's pretty clear that's who he's talking about.
8. Contrary to urban legend, there are no water sports in the tape.
If it's kinky sex you're looking for, move along because you won't find any in this tape. It mostly contains your standard blowjobs, cunnilingus, missionary, and doggy style. Kim does appear to be excellent at oral sex and dirty talk with lots of "Oh babys." The video backs up Kim's claim that on a scale of one to ten, she's a twenty.
9. When Kim's in the news, views go up.
When isn't she in the news? Isn't being seen and talked about the foundation of her entire brand?
10. Kim claimed the woman in the video wasn't her.
When the video was first leaked, Kim said that it was video vixen Karrine Steffans aka Superhead in the tape, not her.
11. The video ended her relationship with Paris Hilton.
The scandal made her more famous than Paris, and Paris wasn't about to be overshadowed by Kim.
12. The video paved the way for the first of the Kardashian reality series.
Five months after the sex tape was released, Kim got her first reality show, Keeping up with the Kardashians, and five months after the tape was released, Paris Hilton's The Simple life was canceled.
13. Kim regrets doing the video.
"If I do have one regret in life that's it," Kim said in an interview with the British magazine, Love.
14. Kim followed in her mother's footsteps.
Kris Jenner and her stepdad, Bruce Jenner (before he transitioned to being Caitlyn Jenner), made a sex tape of their own! The family was horrified when Kris admitted it to the family in an episode of Keeping up with the Kardashians. Luckily, Kris and Bruce erased it almost immediately.
15. Ray J offered a strange wedding gift to Kim and Kanye.
Was it a big eff you or an attempt to get some publicity? When Kim and Kanye got married, Ray J offered them a gift of four months of his profits from the sex tape: $50,000.
16. Actually, sex tapes are a family-thing.
This family doesn't seem to be able to NOT film themselves having sex. In addition to Kim and Kris, Kylie has a sex tape with Tyga, Kourtney has one with a former boyfriend (not her baby daddy Scott Disick), and Khloe and her ex-husband Lamar Odom have one as well.
However, even more disturbing are late writer Jackie Collin's claims that Kim's father, Robert Kardashian, used to film having sex with the women he cheated on Kris with. Holy smokes.
Christine Schoenwald is a writer, performer, and teacher who loves writing and performing personal narratives. She's had pieces in The Los Angeles Times, Salon, Woman's Day, Purple Clover, Bustle, and is a regular contributor to Ravishly and YourTango. Check out her website or her Facebook page.