Kim Kardashian denies claims of payment for posing with $30K Tesla robot in controversial shoot

Kim Kardashian did not receive payment for her photo shoot with Elon Musk’s $30,000 Tesla robot, according to her representative.

The publicist confirmed to the New York Times on Friday that the 44-year-old star of The Kardashians did not get compensated for sharing the futuristic creation with her 359 million Instagram followers.

Kardashian, who appears to have a friendly relationship with Musk, has been photographed with the SpaceX founder, 53, at multiple social events. She also seems to be a fan of his products.

In fact, she has previously posted about owning a Tesla Cybertruck and shared images of herself with the vehicle.

Earlier this month, the Keeping Up with the Kardashians alum introduced her Instagram followers to the Tesla Optimus Robot, engaging with it by asking if it could wave at her and form a heart shape with its hands.

“Hi! Can you do this? I love you?” Kardashian asked the robot, expressing awe when it extended its hand to complete the heart.

She then asked, “OK, what should we do?” before adding with a laugh, “Let’s go for a run.”

Afterward, the internet had some fun at Kardashian’s expense, humorously claiming she had found a “new low-maintenance boyfriend.”

Kardashian, a mother of four who has been single since her breakup with Odell Beckham Jr. earlier this year, poked fun at the critics by holding hands with the golden robot in her sultry photo shoot.

While Kardashian’s representative denied that she received any financial compensation for the attention-grabbing posts, the New York Times expressed skepticism.

The newspaper noted that Kardashian had been fined $1.26 million in October 2022 by the Securities and Exchange Commission for promoting a crypto asset security on social media without disclosing the payment she had received for the endorsement.