How Many Times Has ‘Keeping Up With the Kardashians’ Faced Shutdown Threats Due to Explosive Internal Scandals? The Shocking Secrets Producers Tried So Hard to Bury!

Hollywood’s Darkest Kept Secret: How ‘Keeping Up With the Kardashians’ Was Nearly Canceled Countless Times Over Explosive Family Feuds and Producer Cover-Ups

For more than a decade, Keeping Up With the Kardashians (KUWTK) reigned supreme as America’s most scandalous reality show. But behind the glitz, the designer bags, and the million-dollar mansions, an underworld of shocking betrayals, bitter power struggles, and near-collapse moments was boiling — often pushing the show to the brink of shutdown.

Now, insider sources reveal what the public never saw: the scandalous moments that nearly pulled the plug on KUWTK — and the extreme lengths producers went to keep the cameras rolling.

Season One: The Breakup That Almost Ended It Before It Began

In 2007, as KUWTK premiered, Kris Jenner thought she had struck gold. But just months after filming started, Kim Kardashian’s then-boyfriend Reggie Bush allegedly threatened legal action over his appearances on the show.
“He hated the cameras and hated being part of this circus,” a former crew member disclosed.
Production was halted for nearly a week while Jenner and producers scrambled to edit out key scenes.
“The first scandal wasn’t even from within the family — it was from the inner circle,” the source added. “That’s when producers realized this wasn’t going to be easy money.”

Kourtney vs Kim: The Physical Fight Producers Didn’t Want You to See

Fans thought the infamous slap between Kim and Kourtney in Season 18 was peak reality TV. The truth?
That wasn’t the first — or worst — fight.
In 2017, during a private family retreat in Costa Rica, an off-camera altercation reportedly left Kim with a bruised arm after Kourtney shoved her during a heated argument over Scott Disick.
“Security had to step in. Kris was in tears. Producers panicked because there were no cameras rolling,” says an anonymous production assistant.
E! executives allegedly considered suspending filming indefinitely. Only a carefully staged “talking it out” scene salvaged the season.

Kylie’s Pregnancy: The Hidden Crisis That Almost Killed Ratings

When rumors exploded about Kylie Jenner’s secret pregnancy in 2017, the world expected KUWTK to cash in.
But behind the scenes, Kylie refused to film — threatening to walk away from the show entirely.
“She felt trapped, exposed, and wanted out,” says a former producer.
Desperate, the network agreed to hide her storyline, sacrificing ratings and causing friction among producers furious about losing a ratings goldmine.
“The show’s future was literally hanging by a thread,” the insider admitted.

Tristan Thompson’s Cheating Scandal: The Episode That Almost Never Aired

In 2018, Khloé Kardashian’s world crumbled after Tristan Thompson’s cheating scandal surfaced — just days before she gave birth.
KUWTK cameras rolled non-stop… until Khloé reportedly ordered a full media blackout.
“She didn’t want the cameras anywhere near her hospital room,” said a crew insider.
Production stalled for three weeks. E! executives debated whether they should cancel Khloé’s storyline altogether.
Eventually, Khloé agreed to a post-scandal sit-down interview, but sources say she nearly quit the show entirely.
“It was a game of brinkmanship. The producers were terrified she’d walk — and take the show down with her.”

Kanye West’s Public Meltdowns: The Final Straw?

By 2020, Kanye West’s erratic behavior and explosive Twitter rants put the Kardashians in an impossible position.
“Kim begged producers not to cover Kanye’s presidential run,” reveals an insider. “They promised… and then leaked footage anyway.”
Kim’s fury reportedly led to a screaming match with executive producers, nearly derailing Season 20.
“It wasn’t just family drama anymore. It became a PR nightmare of global proportions,” the source confirmed.
Behind closed doors, executives feared advertisers would pull out — and almost canceled the show months before its final season wrapped.

The Producers’ Playbook: How They Covered It All Up

Multiple insiders confirm KUWTK producers maintained a strict playbook to handle scandal:

• Crisis Contracts: Emergency NDAs for crew members during sensitive shoots

• Scripted “Reality” Scenes: Reenacting events to control the narrative

• Leak Management Teams: Hired to monitor and squash unauthorized leaks

• Internal Crisis Meetings: Weekly sessions to strategize spin control

“It wasn’t reality TV. It was reality warfare,” said a former showrunner. “And sometimes, we barely won.”

Why KUWTK’s End Was More About Survival Than Choice

In 2021, the Kardashians announced KUWTK’s final season with tearful goodbyes and family nostalgia. But insiders paint a different picture.
“The network was exhausted. The family was divided. And the scandals kept getting darker,” a senior E! executive confessed.
Between legal threats, personal breakdowns, and collapsing trust between the family and producers, KUWTK’s end was less about ‘moving on’ — and more about escaping implosion.

What’s Next for the Kardashians?

Despite KUWTK’s dramatic end, Hulu’s The Kardashians picked up the baton.
But can the new platform survive the same internal storms?
Sources hint that Hulu executives are already facing similar behind-the-scenes crises.
“New show, same old problems,” one insider said bluntly.

The Takeaway:
The Kardashian empire was built on scandal — but almost destroyed by it, over and over again.
And if history’s any guide, this saga of power, betrayal, and carefully crafted chaos is far from over.