Kim Kardashian has recently captured significant attention online with a striking photoshoot featuring Tesla’s $30,000 Optimus robot.
Kim Kardashian has recently captured significant attention online with a striking photoshoot featuring Tesla’s $30,000 Optimus robot. As part of her Balenciaga campaign, the reality television star posed alongside the gold humanoid robot in a series of provocative images that have ignited extensive discussion across social media platforms.
Despite speculation suggesting that Tesla CEO Elon Musk compensated Kardashian for her involvement, a spokesperson for the 44-year-old has categorically denied any such agreement.
In one of the images posted on Instagram, Kardashian is depicted sitting on the robot’s lap, clad in nude Balenciaga leggings and a black bomber jacket. Another photograph features her holding the robot’s hand while seated in a gold Tesla Cybertruck, accompanied by a caption that includes only an alien emoji. In response to the surrounding buzz, Kardashian’s representative informed The New York Times on Friday that she “did not receive payment” for the photoshoot.
The innovative collaboration also encompassed a video shared on X (formerly Twitter), in which Kardashian introduced the robot to her 75.1 million followers.
“Hi! Can you do this? I love you?” she inquired, demonstrating to the robot how to create a heart shape with her hands. The video concluded with Kardashian expressing her astonishment as Optimus successfully executed the gesture. Another clip, captioned, “Optimus is here to take mw [sic] for a ride in the Cybercab,” depicted the robot seated within the Tesla Cybertruck.
Both fans and critics were quick to respond. Some referred to Optimus as her “low-maintenance boyfriend,” while others questioned the underlying motives of the campaign. “I’m curious how much Tesla and Elon had to pay to get Kim to do this,” remarked one user. Another added, “Sorry Kim, you’re not going to normalize [sic] this strange behavior [sic] for us. We don’t want this.”
The campaign has ignited discussions not only regarding its artistic purpose but also concerning the integration of advanced technology in celebrity endorsements. The Tesla Optimus robot, introduced as a prototype by Elon Musk in 2021, has been promoted as a glimpse into the future of robotics, with potential applications spanning various tasks.
