Is Kanye West's career hurting because of Kim Kardashian?

theGRIO REPORT - Rapper Kanye West has survived a number of public relations debacles that might have prematurely ended another artist's career...

Marquise Francis

Dec 18, 2012

Rapper Kanye West has survived a number of public relations debacles that might have prematurely ended another artist’s career.

West continued to be a huge concert draw and sell albums after incidents like his interruption of Taylor Swift at the 2009 VMAs and his “George Bush doesn’t care about black people” remark during a Hurricane Katrina telethon.

And yet recently, sources say that West’s popularity is becoming tainted because of his girlfriend, Kim Kardashian.

Some are saying a combination of too many appearances on Keeping Up With the Kardashians, as well as ubiquitous tabloid photos, have had a net negative impact on his image.

“His personal life is overpowering his music,” an industry source says. “Every time he plays, people are wondering if Kim is going to be there. It’s not a good thing for him, especially if he wants to be taken seriously.”

West’s finances are also allegedly being affected by Kardashian. West was offered several opportunities to host New Year’s Eve parties in Vegas and Miami, but only contingent upon him bringing his reality TV star girlfriend along. West declined these offers.

“Kanye was actually offended by the offers,” says the source.

West refused to be a part of Keep Up With the Kardashians initially, but when Kim Kardashian got upset he caved in.

West’s upcoming show in Atlantic City at Revel shows that tickets are “not close to being sold out,” says one ticket broker.

Just last week during the Hurricane Sandy benefit concert, 12.12.12, things turned for the worse when audience members went to the bathroom during West’s performance, in which the rapper wore a kilted skirt.

“Literally half the audience got up to go to the bathroom and it was the talk of the men’s room,” one attendee told Confidenti@l’s Marianne Garvey.

West is reportedly not satisfied with the direction his career is going and has contacted top-level executives to get his career back on track.

Follow Marquise Francis on Twitter @mKfly