In my opinion: Kardashian, Humphries can bank on their divorce, too

In my opinion: Kardashian, Humphries can bank on their divorce, too Image

The microwave marriage of reality TV star Kim Kardashian and NBA player Kris Humphries is the latest example of how society's obsession with the under-talented has made a handful of opportunists a ton of money — and the rest of us into willing dupes.A summary for the uninitiated: Kardashian filed for divorce from Humphries 72 days after saying "I do." This is lightning fast, to be sure, but by no means a record. Britney Spears was married for 58 hours, and Dennis Rodman and Carmen Electra for six days.But what makes the Kardashian-Humphries split so outrageous is that the couple supposedly made money — millions! — from their over-the-top August wedding, according to published reports in various newspapers and magazines. And that makes me doubt the seriousness of their commitment. Marriage is more than a business or a financial enterprise.Not unexpectedly, the Kardashian clan has denied the financial estimates vehemently. Kardashian tweeted: "These reports are simply not true and it makes me sad to have to even clarify this."And her mother Kris Jenner, who coincidentally has a book coming out this week, told The View hosts: "Did they net or gross any amount of money? Absolutely not."Kardashian and Humphries may not have netted anything, but it doesn't mean they weren't paid. The couple, reported The Week magazine and other sources, reportedly raked in $17.9 million from the nuptials and related publicity.$17.9 million. Consider that the next time you're tempted to drop a couple of Andrew Jacksons on a Kardashian handbag at Sears.$17.9 million. Do you know how many hungry people can be fed on that princely sum? How many textbooks can be bought? How many jobs can be created? But wait, let me not go there. If I head down that path, I'll add revolting to the adjectives above.K&K made that money the new-fashioned way — that is, selling their celebrityhood to the rest of us dopes. People magazine forked over almost $3 million for the rights to pictures of their wedding and engagement, according to a report in the New York Post, and E! paid $15 million for the rights to air the wedding special.For the media outlets, it made business sense, if not moral sense. The network charged a $100,000 ad rate for the show instead of its usual $5,000 for a spot, and the Hollywood Reporter estimated E! may have taken in as much as $13 million in ad revenue during the event. I wouldn't doubt if People or US Weekly bids for a follow-up divorce horror cover story.That kind of twisted fiscal reasoning may also explain why designer Vera Wang gave Kardashian not one, not two, but three free gowns worth $60,000 to wear during the ceremony and reception. And why the Tao nightclub in Las Vegas paid Kardashian $50,000 to have her bachelorette party there. And why custom designers Lehr &Black donated the $10,000 invitations.I don't blame K&K for opening their arms to such largesse. But I must wag my finger at the 5 million people who watched E!'s four-hour wedding special and the hundreds of thousands of others who joined in the frenzy by grabbing copies of People and Britain's OK! Magazine, which bought exclusive rights to cover the bridal shower for $100,000. We should know better than to hand over hard-earned money and precious time to something so banal and short-lived.Now the joke's on us.Ana Veciana-Suarez's column appears Sunday.Write to her at The Miami Herald, One Herald Plaza,Miami FL 33132, or send e-mail to aveciana@herald.comMcClatchy News Service

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