Kim Kardashian shared pics of her private island vacation with a note about being 'humble' during COVID-19

It's not hard for most people to make fun of the Kardashians. But this week it got even easier after Kim tweeted she took a birthday getaway to Tahiti with her friends and family — during a deadly pandemic.
"After 2 weeks of multiple health screens and asking everyone to quarantine, I surprised my closest inner circle with a trip to a private island where we could pretend things were normal just for a brief moment in time," she tweeted.
Tweeting that you rented a private island to "feel normal" is a rich brag if I ever heard one.
40 and feeling so humbled and blessed. There is not a single day that I take for granted, especially during these t… https://t.co/DoQtnr0FNa— Kim Kardashian West (@Kim Kardashian West) 1603821964.0
"We danced, rode bikes, swam near whales, kayaked, watched a movie on the beach and so much more. I realize that for most people, this is something that is so far out of reach right now, so in moments like these, I am humbly reminded of how privileged my life is. #thisis40," she continued.
We danced, rode bikes, swam near whales, kayaked, watched a movie on the beach and so much more. I realize that for most people, this is something that is so far out of reach right now, so in moments like these, I am humbly reminded of how privileged my life is. #thisis40 pic.twitter.com/UYOcVBpytW
— Kim Kardashian West (@KimKardashian) October 27, 2020
Kim, for 99.9% of the entire world, taking a trip to a private island is "out of reach." But to make a point of it when most people can't leave their house, let alone their country, seemed more than a little tone deaf to some people.
To top it off, she says the trip "humbly" reminded her of privilege. Which is basically saying "I felt very lucky that I have the ability to live a life of luxury that you could only dream of."
But, you know, that's her brand. So, I have to believe that she knew exactly what she was doing when she let everyone know how great it is she can get away from the reality the vast majority of people around the world are experiencing today but especially in her home of America.
The tweets inspired a meme where people took Kim's words and recast them as dispatches from a world on fire.
After 2 weeks of multiple health screens and asking everyone to quarantine, I surprised my closest inner circle wit… https://t.co/h13OykR5Wn— Ken Klippenstein (@Ken Klippenstein) 1603836752.0
After 2 weeks of multiple health screens and asking everyone to quarantine, I surprised my closest inner circle wit… https://t.co/ROqFHzXAM7— sophie thompson (@sophie thompson) 1603840266.0
After 2 weeks of multiple health screens and asking everyone to quarantine, I surprised my closest inner circle with a trip to a private island where we could pretend things were normal just for a brief moment in time pic.twitter.com/Bz2IJGp2Fe
— Breonna Taylor's killers are still free (@fourthlettr) October 28, 2020
After 2 weeks of multiple health screens and asking everyone to quarantine, I surprised my closest inner circle wit… https://t.co/U4cPD7TYiI— PJ Vogt early if you’re able (@PJ Vogt early if you’re able) 1603826687.0
After 2 weeks of multiple health screens and asking everyone to quarantine, I surprised my closest inner circle wit… https://t.co/HutVjNzpuE— Otto Von Biz Markie (@Otto Von Biz Markie) 1603828129.0
But the responses haven't all been funny. Colin Hanks, whose parents contracted the virus back in March, came after her hard.
Let them eat cake. https://t.co/J39lvC3WSO— Colin Hanks (@Colin Hanks) 1603830608.0
While others used the opportunity to explain the real hardships people are facing right now.
Humble is doing a hell of a lot of heavy lifting here!
— Sheila O'Flanagan 📚📚📚 (@sheilaoflanagan) October 27, 2020
Humble (noun): having or showing a modest or low estimate of one's own importance... by throwing yourself a 40th birthday party on a private island during a pandemic.
Blessed (noun): to feel lucky to have health, while others die, and fortune, while others can't afford rent.
— 📷 Jena Ardell (@jenaardell) October 27, 2020
For my birthday I was sent a notice of unemployment & I haven't seen my mom since March! Hopefully you're happy on your island of fun vacation pic.twitter.com/0HlFfSNpzo
— Encinitas99 Ⓥ (@MamaVegan13) October 27, 2020
Mask up, poors! pic.twitter.com/KtHdTjjE03
— Blue Lives Are Just Pretend |Gavin Eugene Short 🦐 (@big_bruiser) October 27, 2020
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There's a reason why some people can perfectly copy accents, and others can't
Turns out, there's a neurodivergent link.
A woman in black long sleeve shirt stands in front of mirror.
Have you ever had that friend who goes on vacation for four days to London and comes back with a full-on Queen's English posh accent? "Oooh I left my brolly in the loo," they say, and you respond, "But you're from Colorado!" Well, there are reasons they (and many of us) do that, and usually it's on a pretty subconscious level.
It's called "accent mirroring," and it's actually quite common with people who are neurodivergent, particularly those with ADHD (Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder). According Neurolaunch, the self-described "Free Mental Health Library," "Accent mirroring, also known as accent adaptation or phonetic convergence, is the tendency to unconsciously adopt the accent or speech patterns of those around us. This linguistic chameleon effect is not unique to individuals with ADHD, but it appears to be more pronounced and frequent in this population."
Essentially, when people have conversations, we're constantly "scanning" for information—not just the words we're absorbing, but the inflection and tone. "When we hear an accent, our brains automatically analyze and categorize the phonetic features, prosody, and intonation patterns," writes Neurolaunch. For most, this does result in copying the accent of the person with whom we're speaking. But those with ADHD might be more sensitive to auditory cues. This, "coupled with a reduced ability to filter out or inhibit the impulse to mimic…could potentially explain the increased tendency for accent mirroring."
While the article explains further research is needed, they distinctly state that, "Accent mirroring in individuals with ADHD often manifests as an unconscious mimicry of accents in social situations. This can range from subtle shifts in pronunciation to more noticeable changes in intonation and speech rhythm. For example, a person with ADHD might find themselves unconsciously adopting a Southern drawl when conversing with someone from Texas, even if they’ve never lived in the South themselves."
People are having their say online. On the subreddit r/ADHDWomen, a thread began: "Taking on accents is an ADHD thing?" The OP shares, "My whole life, I've picked up accents. I, myself, never noticed, but everyone around me would be like, 'Why are you talking like that??' It could be after I watched a show or movie with an accent or after I've traveled somewhere with a different accent than my 'normal.'
They continue, "Apparently, I pick it up fast, but it fades out slowly. Today... I'm scrolling Instagram, I watch a reel from a comedian couple (Darcy and Jeremy. IYKYK) about how Darcy (ADHD) picks up accents everywhere they go. It's called ADHD Mirroring??? And it's another way of masking."
(The OP is referring to Darcy Michaels and his husband Jeremy Baer, who are both touring comedians based in Canada.)
Hundreds of people on the Reddit thread alone seem to relate. One comments, "Omfg I've done this my whole life; I'll even pick up on the pauses/spaces when I'm talking to someone who is ESL—but English is my first language lol."
Sometimes, it can be a real issue for those around the chameleon. "I accidentally mimicked a waitress's weird laugh one time. As soon as she was out of earshot, my family started to reprimand me, but I was already like 'oh my god I don’t know why I did that, I feel so bad.'"
Many commenters on TikTok were shocked to find out this can be a sign of ADHD. One jokes, "Omg, yes, at a store the cashier was talking to me and she was French. She's like 'Oh are you French too? No, I'm not lol. I'm very east coast Canada."
And some people just embrace it and make it work for them. "I mirror their words or phrase! I’m 30. I realized I start calling everyone sweetie cause my manager does & I work at coffee shop."