Kim Kardashian responds to Tesla robot backlash, was she paid for the stunt?

Kim Kardashian is pushing back against claims that she was financially compensated for her recent viral photo shoot featuring Tesla's $30,000 Optimus robot.

A representative for Kardashian confirmed to The New York Times on Friday that the reality star and entrepreneur "did not get paid" to showcase the humanoid robot to her 359 million Instagram followers.

Kim Kardashian gets candid about Tesla Bot shoot

Despite the speculation, Kardashian's connection to Tesla and its founder, Elon Musk, appears rooted in mutual admiration rather than a business transaction.

The Skims founder, 44, has been seen at several events with Musk and has shared images of her Tesla Cybertruck in the past.

Earlier this month, however, it was her interaction with the Tesla Bot that sparked significant online chatter.

In a video posted to Instagram, Kardashian engaged with the robot, asking it to wave and form a heart shape with its hands.

"Hi! Can you do this? I love you?" she asked.

When the robot mimicked her gestures, Kardashian laughed in surprise, adding, "Let's go for a run."

The lighthearted interaction quickly escalated into a more provocative nighttime photo shoot that polarized fans.

Fans were left surprised by the photoshoot, with some calling it 'embarrassing' and 'scary.'

Others voiced that they found the 'sexualization' of the robot to be 'disturbing.'

Meanwhile, others said the shoot was funny and joked that the model and entrepeneur finally found her 'soulmate.'

The shoot featured Kardashian in sheer, nude-toned tights, with black stockings and a garter belt print, seated on the robot's lap inside her custom Tesla Model S.

Other photos showed her crouched beside the vehicle while the robot relaxed in the driver's seat.

Social media reactions were mixed, with some calling the images "disturbing" and others humorously dubbing the robot her "soulmate."

While Kardashian's representative denied any financial arrangement with Tesla, skepticism lingers.

Critics recalled her $1.26 million settlement with the Securities and Exchange Commission in 2022 for failing to disclose payment for a cryptocurrency promotion.