Kim Kardashian recently discussed her belief that the Moon landing was faked during an episode of her reality television series, "The Kardashians." NASA acting administrator Sean Duffy subsequently responded to her comments on social media, affirming the Moon landings and promoting the agency's current lunar exploration program.
Kim Kardashian's Statements
On a recent episode of "The Kardashians," Kim Kardashian told co-star Sarah Paulson that she believed the Moon landing "didn't happen." She also stated to a producer that she "centre[s] conspiracy theories all the time" and believes the Moon landing was fake.
Kardashian displayed an interview with astronaut Buzz Aldrin during the episode. She read a quote, which she attributed to Aldrin, regarding the "scariest moment of the expedition": "There was no scary moment because it didn't happen. It could've been scary, but it wasn't because it didn't happen." The article Kardashian was reading from and the authenticity of the quotes from Aldrin were not specified. Kardashian further claimed, "I've seen a few videos on Buzz Aldrin talking about how it didn't happen. He says it all the time now, in interviews."
NASA's Response
Following the broadcast, NASA acting administrator Sean Duffy addressed Kardashian's comments in a post on X, tagging her in the message. Duffy wrote, "Yes, we've been to the Moon before... 6 times!" He also promoted NASA's Artemis program, stating it is "going back under the leadership" of Donald Trump, and added, "We won the last space race and we will win this one too."
In response, Kardashian posted a question to Duffy about the interstellar object 3I/Atlas, asking, "Wait…. what's the tea on 3I Atlas?!?!!!!!!!?????" Astronomers have identified 3I/Atlas as a potential candidate for the oldest known comet. Duffy later extended an invitation to Kardashian to attend the launch of an Artemis mission to the Moon at the Kennedy Space Center.
Historical Context of Moon Landing Claims
Conspiracy theories questioning whether humans actually reached the Moon have persisted for over 50 years. The Apollo 11 mission in 1969 saw Buzz Aldrin and Neil Armstrong become the first humans to walk on the lunar surface. Scientists and experts have consistently rebutted claims that the mission was a hoax for decades. The Institute of Physics stated that "Every single argument claiming that Nasa faked the Moon landings has been discredited."