LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA: Kim Zolciak faced criticism from her Instagram followers on Tuesday after she shared a link to a sensational article that seemed to suggest her daughter, Brielle Biermann, was expecting a child.
However, those who were misled into clicking on the story soon found out that Brielle was not pregnant at all, said Daily Mail.
Kim Zolciak shares fabricated sonogram image
The misleading Instagram post, which included a fabricated sonogram image, further perplexed the fans of the former Real Housewives Of Atlanta star.
The post was not merely an attention-seeking stunt, as Kim was reportedly compensated for sharing it, according to sources familiar with the matter who spoke to TMZ.
This surprising move comes amid the ongoing financial difficulties faced by Kim and her estranged husband Kroy Biermann, which were further compounded when Chase Bank sued him for $13,000 in overdue credit card payments.
Kim made no attempt to be subtle with her post, which featured a sonogram image at the bottom.
This image was placed alongside a photo of Kim and Brielle, potentially leading her followers to believe that Brielle was expecting.
However, the inclusion of Brielle’s name on the fabricated sonogram image falsely insinuated that it was an authentic scan from her.
"I'M SO EXCITED TO BE A GRANDMA! [pregnant woman emoji] #LinkInBio," Kim said in the post.
However, those who clicked on the link in her profile were led to a sensational article that clarified that Brielle was not pregnant.
The article included statements about Kim’s hopes for Brielle’s pregnancy, but no actual pregnancy was reported.
Sources cited by TMZ suggest that Kim received a commission for sharing the article, although the exact amount and whether it was a fixed fee or dependent on the number of misled clicks remains unclear.
The star of 'Don't Be Tardy' eventually disabled comments on her misleading sonogram post due to a barrage of angry responses from her followers. However, users were initially able to respond to it.
Internet slams Kim Zolciak for misleading pregnancy post
The 45-year-old TV icon sparked outrage among fans after sharing a fabricated sonogram that suggested her daughter was pregnant, a move apparently aimed at generating revenue.
"Broke broke as a joke joke. Get that spending under control," an angry user commented, per Page Six.
"Kim DESPERATE for money honey," said another. One follower claimed, "Whatever makes the news gets them paid at this point they will do anything to stay in the headlines!"
One person added, "I reported the post as false information! She can’t keep doing this and making money off social with lies!!"