Kim Kardashian is facing significant backlash following her recent Instagram post featuring a Tesla Cybertruck and the company’s Optimus robot. The 44-year-old reality star and entrepreneur shared the images on Friday, coinciding with her appearance as the cover star for Perfect Magazine’s upcoming issue.
https://x.com/niccruzpatane/status/1900620772046971296
The photoshoot, conducted in Malibu, California by photographer Steven Klein, showcases Kardashian posing alongside the futuristic-looking Cybertruck and interacting intimately with the humanoid robot. The images have garnered over 10 million views on Instagram, sparking a wave of criticism from social media users.
Critics have accused Kardashian of being tone-deaf, especially given the current controversies surrounding Tesla CEO Elon Musk. Musk has faced protests and declining sales due to his association with President Donald Trump and his administration’s controversial budget cuts.
One Instagram user commented, “She definitely picked a side,” accompanied by a red flag emoji. Another wrote, “Iconic! (If that truck was on fire!),” highlighting the perceived insensitivity of the post, per the Independent.
Former adult film star Mia Khalifa also weighed in, stating, “Kim Kardashian is a nazi bird brained billionaire, and if she ever read this she’d probably smile at being called billionaire and ignore the rest cause she’s a bird.”
“Kim KKKardashian strikes again,” another user said, according to Breitbart News.
“N*zi Alert! N*zi Alert! Now Kimye makes sense,” an Instagram user said.
The timing of the photoshoot has also been questioned, as it comes amid increasing protests against Musk and his companies. Tesla owners have been targeted, with their vehicles vandalized as part of the backlash against Musk’s policies.
In response to the criticism, Kardashian clarified that the photoshoot was conducted in November 2024, prior to the recent controversies. She stated that the images were part of a 34-page issue devoted to her, exploring themes of technology and futurism.
Despite her clarification, many social media users remain critical, accusing Kardashian of aligning herself with controversial figures and movements. Some have even labeled her a “Satanist” and compared her to historical figures associated with oppressive regimes.
This is not the first time Kardashian’s associations have come under scrutiny. Her connections with influential business leaders close to President Trump, including Musk and Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg, have sparked speculation about her political affiliations.
Kardashian has previously described her political views as a mix of liberal and conservative. She has engaged in criminal justice reform and has met with both Trump and Vice President Kamala Harris on related matters.
The current backlash highlights the challenges public figures face when engaging with controversial technologies and personalities. As AI and robotics become more integrated into daily life, associations with these technologies can elicit strong public reactions.
Kardashian’s collaboration with Tesla also underscores the complexities of celebrity endorsements, particularly when the associated brands are embroiled in political and social debates. The public’s response to her photoshoot reflects broader concerns about the influence of technology companies and their leaders on society.
The insults against Kardashian comes after comedian Bill Burr accused Elon Musk of giving a “shoutout to Hitler” during Trump’s victory rally in January. Democrats have falsely claimed that the Tesla CEO made a Nazi-like salute during the rally.
