Kris Jenner Reportedly "Engineered" Kim Kardashian's Sex Tape Leak

The sex tape in question was leaked nearly a decade ago.

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Complex Original

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Though it's been nearly a decade since the leak of Kim Kardashian's sex tape with Ray J, people are still fascinated by the behind-the-scenes maneuvering that flipped the leak into a PR victory. In a new book entitled Kardashian Dynasty, author Ian Halperin claims Kris Jenner and the Kardashian fam had a bit more to do with the leak than originally believed.

In fact, Halperin's sources claim the tape was "deliberately leaked" and involved a clever contract with Vivid Entertainment. “It was Kris [Jenner] who engineered the deal behind the scenes and was responsible for the tape seeing the light of day," an alleged "former friend of Kim" told Halperin, in an excerpt from Kardashian Dynastyquoted byPage Six. Though Kim sued Vivid and settled for $5 million following the release of the 2003 tape, Halperin says there's a bit more to the story.

Citing an unnamed "adult film industry" source, Halperin claims Kim got some career advice regarding the possible fame boost a leaked tape might inspire. According to Halperin, this mutual friend "advised [Kim] that if she wanted to achieve fame, a sex tape would be the way to go." While writing the book, Halperin reportedly posed as someone interested in selling a sex tape to Vivid to get a few more details on what allegedly went down. 

Halperin claims that the Vivid representative he contacted ultimately discussed the Kim tape, revealing that a "third party" brought it to them before they advised Kim to take control of the narrative. "So why not work for us, and we'll make sure that it will not only get out, but that it will be distributed the way you want,” the unnamed rep reportedly told the author. According to Halperin, Vivid "would not have announced plans" without some sort of interaction with the Kardashian fam. Kim's team, however, remains unconvinced: "All the assertions are false."

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