NASA just faced unexpected backlash after Acting Administrator Sean Duffy decided to personally respond to reality star Kim Kardashian’s viral claims that the iconic 1969 moon landing was completely faked. The National Aeronautics and Space Administration is certainly dealing with some unexpected drama after responding to the celebrity’s conspiracy theory, which she encouraged her fans to check out on TikTok.
You might have caught the clip circulating from an episode of The Kardashians. While getting their hair and makeup done on set, Kanye’s ex Kim, spoke to her co-star Sarah Paulson and dropped the bombshell that she doesn’t believe humanity ever walked on the Moon. She claimed the event “didn’t happen” because it “could’ve been scary but it wasn’t.”
Kim even promised to send Paulson “a million articles” about the conspiracy. According to Daily Dot, when a producer off-screen asked the Skims co-owner to clarify if she truly thinks the landing was fake, she confirmed, “I don’t think we did. I think it was fake.”
NASA shuts up another conspiracy spread by a celeb who doesn’t know any better, but won’t comment on real issues
Kim’s evidence for this belief relies on several classic conspiracy tropes. She points to the American flag, seemingly “blowing” despite there being “no gravity on the moon.” She also mentioned the footprints, claiming the shoes displayed in the museum have a different print than the famous photos taken on the lunar surface. Another major point she raised was the lack of visible stars in the photographs.
Crucially, she tried to use astronaut Buzz Aldrin as her primary source, alleging that Aldrin “says it all the time now in interviews” that the landing was fake. It’s a recurring issue, but reports confirm that moon landing deniers frequently misconstrue Aldrin’s comments. The legendary astronaut has absolutely not claimed the moon landing was fake, despite what you might see circulating on TikTok.
NASA knew they had to jump in quickly, especially since Kim was telling her millions of followers, “They’re gonna say I’m crazy no matter what. But like, go to TikTok. See for yourself.” Sean Duffy, NASA’s Acting Administrator, used X to deliver a clear message that shut down the conspiracy quickly.
Kim Kardashian says the Moon landing was fake
— Sarvagya (@vedhax) November 5, 2025
"Go to TikTok … see for yourself … Why is the flag blowing? ….. Why are there no stars?"
NASA responds:
"Yes, we've been to the Moon before … six times"#nasa #KimKardashian #news #PopCulture #TikTok pic.twitter.com/vwL89Cc4xN
He wrote, “Yes, @KimKardashian, we’ve been to the Moon before… 6 times! And even better: @NASAArtemis is going back under the leadership of @POTUS.” Duffy stressed that the US won the last space race and they will win this one too under the current administration of President Trump.
While setting the record straight is important, this quick response opened up a huge can of worms for NASA. It’s a top-tier example of how celebrity status can overshadow serious scientific inquiry. NASA is now facing serious criticism because they were lightning-fast in responding to Kim K, but they’ve been completely silent on other major questions.
Specifically, they appear to be ignoring requests for greater transparency regarding 3I/ATLAS. If you haven’t heard of it, 3I/ATLAS is an interstellar object that some people believe resembles a spaceship. This has led to intense speculation about its origins.
Harvard scientist Avi Loeb called out the agency’s priorities in an interview with NewsNation. Loeb said, “My complaint is there was an immediate response to [Kim Kardashian] but no response to us.”
Social media users weren’t having NASA’s priorities either. They generally agreed with Loeb that the space agency was prioritizing fame over real science. One commenter on X lamented, “Lesson: Famous people get more attention than govt grifters.” Another suggested NASA felt compelled to respond because of her massive platform, saying, “He must respond to her because she has millions of followers.”
