Kim Kardashian found herself addressing online backlash Thursday after a slideshow of lakeside vacation photos appeared on her Instagram around the same time news broke that her grandmother, Mary Jo "MJ" Shannon, had died at 91.
What Happened
Kardashian posted a series of "lake life" photos from a recent trip featuring her four children — Saint, 10, Chicago, 8, and Psalm, 7, among them — along with her sister Khloé Kardashian and boyfriend Lewis Hamilton. Shortly after, Kardashian's mother, Kris Jenner, confirmed on Instagram that MJ had passed away, writing: "Today, we said goodbye to my beautiful Mommy MJ. There are no words that could ever capture what she has meant to me or the heartbreak of having to say goodbye. My mom was the heart of our family."
The near-simultaneous timing of the two posts prompted confusion and criticism from followers, with some directly questioning the vacation photos in the comments — "Didn't your grandmama just pass?" one wrote, while another put it more bluntly: "Your grandmother died Kimberly." Some of the photos in question included bikini shots from the lake trip, which added to the pointed reactions from commenters who felt the timing was jarring given the news of MJ's passing.
Kim's Response
Kardashian addressed the criticism directly in the comments section, clarifying that the post had been arranged well before her grandmother's death. "This post was scheduled a few days ago before we lost MJ, so its timing came right alongside her passing," she wrote. "I've been by my mom and grandma's side this past week, and my heart is completely with my family right now." She added: "We love and miss her so deeply, and in the days ahead, we'll be focusing on celebrating her beautiful life."
A Divided Reaction Online
Not everyone piled on. Several commenters came to Kardashian's defense, pointing out that public figures routinely schedule social content days in advance. "Do you guys really think she would post this intentionally at the same time as the news of her grandma passing? It's clearly a scheduled post," one fan wrote. Another added, "A lot of public figures queue content days ahead of time. Let's give her a little grace." Still, the volume of criticism reportedly grew significant enough that, roughly half an hour after the lake post drew backlash, Kardashian's team shared a separate tribute post entirely dedicated to MJ.
Kim's Tribute to Her Grandmother
In the tribute, Kardashian shared throwback photos and a heartfelt message calling MJ "my best friend, my gossip buddy, my forever twin." She credited her grandmother with instilling core family values and shaping her early career: "You were the woman who showed me what it meant to be a hardworking businesswoman. You gave me my very first job at your store in San Diego and taught me lessons about work ethic, strength, and confidence that I've carried with me ever since. You always believed in me, championed me, and were my safe place." She closed the tribute asking MJ to give her late father, Robert Kardashian Sr., a hug for her in heaven, writing, "I know you're at peace now. You will always be a part of me, I love you soooooo much and I will miss you forever and ever. YOU ARE THE BEST OF US!!!"
Family and Celebrity Reactions
Kardashian's sister Khloé responded to the tribute post with a series of heart emojis, while actress Sarah Paulson simply commented, "Love you." The family has said they'll spend the coming days focused on celebrating MJ's life following her passing.
Why the Confusion Happened
The episode highlights a recurring dynamic for high-profile public figures who rely on pre-scheduled social media content: posts queued days in advance can land at emotionally jarring moments entirely outside the poster's control, particularly during unexpected news like a death in the family. Kardashian's explanation — that her team had scheduled the lake photos before MJ's passing — is consistent with how many celebrities and influencers manage their social media presence, though the coincidental timing was enough to spark real confusion and criticism before the full context became clear.