Richard Johnson

Richard Johnson

Celebrity News

Is the Kardashian reign of terror coming to an end?

Not only are the Kardashians’ TV ratings sinking, but their faces are failing to sell supermarket weeklies.

“It’s over. The fatigue factor has really set in,” one magazine publisher told me. “None of the Kardashians, either alone or together, is selling.”

Sources say Jann Wenner paid $110,000 for a heavily retouched photo of Kim Kardashian in a white bikini, which he splashed on the Dec. 23 cover of Us Weekly under the headline, “My Body Is Back.”

But the glossy, which usually sells about a half million a week, sold fewer than 400,000 copies, an insider with access to circulation reports told me.

Bauer’s In Touch dropped 70,000 copies from its average circulation with a recent Kardashian cover, and another Bauer title, Life & Style, dropped 50,000.

Star magazine, from American Media Inc., sold 50,000 copies less than its newsstand draw of 325,000 with its Dec. 2 issue blaring, “Kris & Bruce: Divorce Bombshell: Kim Helps Kris Hide $25 million.”

“I think it’s because Kanye West is so nasty and aggressive. People don’t like him,” the publisher said. “It’s rubbed off on Kim. It’s rubbed off on the whole family.”

Marc Berman of TV Media Insights had a different explanation for why ratings of E!’s “Keeping Up With the Kardashians” and its various spinoffs have sunk.

“It’s simple — overkill,” Berman said. “The Kardashians are everywhere. They never take a break.”

When “KUWTK” debuted in 2007, more than twice as many viewers tuned in than do today. The ninth season premieres Sunday, Jan. 19.

“E! should give them a break and take them off the air for a season,” Berman said.

Julia Roberts seems to agree. She told In Touch, “I love ‘Project Runway.’ I’ve also seen ‘[Real] Housewives’ a little bit!” How about the Kardashians? She said, “They’re still on TV . . . aren’t they?”

Magazine spokespersons were not available for comment.