Talk about terrible timing.
Kim Kardashian found herself facing a wave of criticism from fans on Thursday after an Instagram post went live just minutes before her mom Kris Jenner revealed the heartbreaking news that the KarJenner family had lost its beloved matriarch, Mary Jo “MJ” Shannon.
Related: Travis Barker Is First KarJenner Partner To Publicly Mourn Death Of Kris Jenner’s Mom MJ
The SKIMS founder shared a carousel of cheerful snapshots from a recent lakeside family vacation, captioning the post simply, “Lake Life.”
The photos showed Kim soaking up the sun alongside Khloé Kardashian, enjoying time on a boat, wakeboarding, laughing with her children, and even letting Kendall Jenner pour tequila into her mouth while balancing on a paddleboard.
Under normal circumstances, it would have looked like another carefree Kardashian family photo dump. But the timing immediately raised eyebrows once Kris announced her mother’s passing.
In the comments, many followers questioned why Kim would post vacation pictures on the same day such devastating family news became public — and in fact, with the post going live just minutes before Kris’ public announcement of MJ’s passing.
Some commenters wondered whether the upload could have waited, while others referenced MJ directly. One fan even couldn’t resist bringing back one of the Kardashian universe’s most unforgettable memes, joking, “Kim, there’s people that are dying” — a callback to Kourtney Kardashian‘s legendary line from Keeping Up with the Kardashians.
Related: Lewis Hamilton Supports Kim Kardashian After Grandma Passes In SWEETEST WAY!
As criticism continued to build in the comments, Kim stepped in to explain exactly what had happened. She revealed that the vacation post wasn’t something she had decided to publish amid the family tragedy, but that it had been previously scheduled a few days back:
“This post was scheduled a few days ago before we lost MJ, so its timing came right alongside her passing. I’ve been by my mom and grandma’s side this past week, and my heart is completely with my family right now. We love and miss her so deeply, and in the days ahead, we’ll be focusing on celebrating her beautiful life.”
That explanation seemed to answer the biggest question many fans had been asking. In today’s social media world, scheduled posts are incredibly common, especially for celebrities and brands juggling countless obligations. Unfortunately, life doesn’t always cooperate with a content calendar.
Kim didn’t stop there, either. She later shared an emotional tribute honoring her grandmother, remembering the enormous impact MJ had on both her life and the entire family:
“My sweet Grandma MJ, my best friend, my gossip buddy, my forever twin… You taught all of us the importance of family, and those values are something we’ll carry with us forever!!!!! 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. You truly were the matriarch of our family, and your love is woven into all of us. I know you’re at peace now. Give Papa Harry, Aunt Karen, and my dad a hug for me. 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!!!”
Meanwhile, Kris’ own announcement from earlier in the day painted a deeply emotional picture of the family’s loss.
Remembering her mother as the heart of the family, Kris reflected on the values Shannon instilled in everyone she loved:
“She taught me everything that truly matters… to love your family fiercely, to be kind, to show up for the people you love, and to never take a single moment together for granted. She taught us that family is everything. She showed us how to love unconditionally and how to find joy in the little moments.”
So sad.
So, yeah, sometimes the internet rushes to judgment — and this appears to be one of those moments…
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[Image via Kim Kardashian/Instagram]