Kim Kardashian’s Bare Butt Leaks Online, Internet Remains Stable

On Monday afternoon, as a nation collectively recovered from the tense, woefully problematic gladiatorial bout that was Super Bowl XLIX, Kim Kardashian took it upon herself to unleash the Kraken—her ass, that is—and impose her copious behind on a foggy, unsuspecting public.

Yes, a black-and-white photo of Kardashian’s moneymaker leaked online. It apparently features in an upcoming issue of the British magazine LOVE that was guest edited by her pal, supermodel Cara Delevingne. Back in January, Delevingne and Kardashian’s little sister, Kendall Jenner, were featured on the cover of LOVE in a passionate embrace accompanied by the headline, “Kendall on Cara.”

Kim’s pictorial sees Mrs. Kanye West styled in Prada by Katie Grand, sporting just a jacket, stockings, and heels. She’s taking a drag from a cigarette and looks back at the camera unfazed. Her sizeable caboose is exposed, and it looks as if she’s about to do a public No. 2 or is merely throwing caution to the wind and showing what Mama Kris gave her. The image was captured by American photographer Steven Klein, who’s best known for his work with pop stars Madonna and Lady Gaga.

In the wake of her previous attempt to #BreakTheInternet with her shiny, bounteous, champagne glass-balancing butt in Paper magazine, this butt-baring effort seems tame by comparison. But the through-line here, if there is one, is that Kardashian seems to be relishing in celebrating her post-baby body following the birth of North West—which we certainly can’t fault. And, since the picture set in LOVE all seem to be satirizing her relationship with the prying paparazzi, other photos include her straddling a blow-up doll by the side of a pool and draped in a trench coat, this is perhaps Kim’s way of giving us all the middle finger—by giving us a large helping of ass.

Or perhaps this is Svengali-momager Kris Jenner’s way of deflecting media attention away from her hubby Bruce Jenner’s transition to womanhood (the coverage has, after all, been deplorable). Who knows.

Either way, it’s been a pretty big three-day weekend for Kardashian, who began Saturday night by taking in hubby Kanye’s DirecTV pre-Super Bowl mega-concert, followed by the greatest date night photo ever featuring her, Kanye, John Legend, and Chrissy Teigen at a Waffle House. Then, she starred in a T-Mobile commercial during the Super Bowl, and also took in the Super Bowl with Kanye where they were bugged by hordes of selfie-taking Seahawks fans.

The Internet, meanwhile, remains stable.