It was the scandalous "home movie" that turned KK into a household name.
The Kim Kardashian and Ray J sex tape that launched Kim into fame was released more than ten years ago, but information about its commercial success is just now becoming public.
Imagine stumbling upon an email revealing a long-held secret about one of the most controversial celebrity moments in history. That’s what happened with the former couple’s sex tape.
A recently uncovered email acquired by TMZ sheds new light on how much money the tape generated in its initial weeks of release. This validates rumors that the tape was a moneymaker for Ray J and Kardashian after they reached a settlement with adult media distributor Vivid Entertainment.
The data in the email shows that the tape “Kim Kardashian, Superstar” made almost $1.4 million in its first six weeks of release, with the DVD sales accounting for most of that money, or $1,255,578.50.
The records also show that Kardashian and Ray J each received $400,000 for the tape and a 12.5% share of future sales. This revelation has sparked renewed interest and controversy about the tape’s origins and what it meant for Kardashian’s career.
Even Kris Jenner, the mother of the “SKIMS” founder, is said to be involved in those controversies, with some saying she was the mastermind behind it. This even prompted the singer to include this in his claims on Kim’s lawsuit, but everyone in Kris’ legal team, including Vivid chief Steve Hirsch, denied it.
Besides, the businesswoman is not also included in either the email or the contract, proving that she was not a part of the video transaction before or during the lawsuit about it occurred.
And while the tape made a sizable amount of money at first, the money kept coming in for years. Ray J said that the tape helped him make an average of $90,000 every three months from Vivid in 2014, which adds up to $360,000 annually.
Not only that but every time Kim made headlines, the number would drastically rise. Despite the tape’s contentious beginnings, it assisted in launching the reality star’s career and making her a well-known figure.
With that, the email and contracts demonstrate the tape’s commercial success and draw fresh attention to its historical context and the ongoing debate it has sparked. It’s a reminder that even the most scandalous moments can have lasting repercussions and that sometimes, the truth is stranger than fiction.