Much like the gorgeous Lancia Stratos concept, the Tesla Cybertruck, or any one of Kim Kardashian's customized luxury rides, every vehicle is a good photo prop. The same goes for the CyberCab and the Optimus robot, both products currently under development at Tesla.
Most people choose their cars for their functionality, aesthetic appeal, or a combination of both. For celebrities like Kim Kardashian, for whom being seen means staying relevant, a car is also a prop for social media content, so the fancier the ride, the better suited for the job it is.
In that sense, Kim picked not one but a pair of winners.
The other day, she took to her Stories to tease that she's bought or had been gifted an Optimus, the humanoid robot Tesla is developing as future companion and workhorse. She also showed glimpses of an autonomous CyberCab, comparing it to her custom Cybertruck, praising the designer, and boasting that she was about to hop in for a ride, with Optimus in the driver's seat.
Photo: Instagram/Kim Kardashian
That was all make-believe, most likely, and there's no way to confirm it was real for now. What's certain is that Kim used both Tesla machines for what she does best, which is stunting queen-ing.
The result isn't what she imagined it would be, though. She did a photo op with Optimus and the CyberCab with strong "date night" vibes, and she's getting slammed for it online.
The most famous of the Kardashian sisters has close to 360 million followers on Instagram alone, which means that, even if she does or says something particularly weird or out of touch, she still gets some support from the community. Particularly weird stunts that are of relevance to us include a desert photoshoot with the beautiful, iconic 1970 Lancia Stratos HF Zero concept, and wrapping her Lamborghini Urus (inside and out!) in the same boucle fabric she makes her leisurewear out of.
Photo: Instagram/Kim Kardashian
This time, her stunt is hitting different in the sense that she's barely getting any supportive messages. Instead, the consensus is that her "romantic" photoshoot with Optimus is weird, bizarre, midlife-crisis-ish, or just plain wrong. Not even her loyal followers are having it, openly declaring that, if this is the future, they want no part of it.
Controversy aside, this photoshoot confirms that Kim Kardashian remains one of the few celebrities with a direct line to Elon Musk. Not only is she invited to one-on-one viewings of developing products or even has them shipped to her mansion for a private viewing, but she is allowed to use them for content.
Some voices are saying that she must have gotten paid for this, but the truth is probably closer to this being a symbiotic relationship between the two: Kim gets a new prop no one has access to, which makes for unmatched social media content, while Musk gets the kind of exposure other brands could only dream of.
Elena has been writing for a living since 2006 and, as a journalist, she has put her double major in English and Spanish to good use. She covers automotive and mobility topics like cars and bicycles, and she always knows the shows worth watching on Netflix and friends. Full profile
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