Barbara Walters: People Were Upset I Chose The Kardashians As Most Fascinating

For the past 18 years, the legendary journalist has chosen 10 individuals who she believes made an impact on the world in the past year and she says whether you like it or not the Kardashians made her list!

Barbara Walters is shocked with how negatively some people are responding to her decision to include the Kardashians in her 10 Most Fascination People of 2011 set to air on Dec. 14. HollywoodLife.com spoke with Barbara and she explains why her list would be incomplete without these E! reality moguls.

“The whole idea of this program that we’ve been doing for 18 years is to pick people who have made an impact and whether you like or don’t like it the Kardashians were a controversial choice,” Barbara told us. “We did Jersey Shore last year and no one objected. [The Kardashians] strike a different chord.”

We asked Barbara if she feels like the Kardashians have gone too far in showing the world their most private moments. For instance, Kim’s road to the altar, Kris Jenner‘s facelift, and even Kourtney Kardashian‘s birth of her son Mason.

“One of the reasons [for their success] is because they put it all out there and nothing is private,” Barbara says. “Even with their arguing they are all are very close.”

But can their fame last longterm?

“I really don’t know what the future is for the Kardashians,” she says. “What happens next in their future and life I can’t say.”

The Kardashians, Katy Perry, Simon Cowell and Pippa Middleton are just a few of the biggest names in entertainment that Barbara has chosen. Tune into ABC on Dec. 14 for the 90-minute-special and find out who made the coveted number one spot!

— Chloe Melas

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