US agency goes off topic, tweets about Kim Kardashian

In this May 5, 2014, file photo, Kim Kardashian attends The Metropolitan Museum of Art’s Costume Institute benefit gala celebrating “Charles James: Beyond Fashion” in New York. The Environmental Protection Agency’s fight to clean up water pollution is getting a splash of pop culture, thanks to a flub involving Kardashian. The verified Twitter account for the EPA’s Office of Water mistakenly published a note on July 21 about an online game, “Kim Kardashian: Hollywood,” in which players walk red carpets, attend photo shoots and get dolled up like a Kardashian. AP

WASHINGTON — The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s fight to clean up water pollution got a splash of pop culture Tuesday, thanks to an Internet flub involving reality TV star Kim Kardashian.

The verified Twitter account for the EPA’s Office of Water mistakenly published a message Monday night about an online game, “Kim Kardashian: Hollywood,” in which players walk red carpets, attend photo shoots and get dolled up like a Kardashian. An agency spokeswoman said the off-topic tweet was done by an intern.

The government’s tweet was removed within hours from the @EPAwater account, but not before a tweet from the account of Democrcatic Rep. John Dingell, a Democrat, the 88-year-old co-author of the Clean Water Act, poked fun by asking what a Kardashian is.

Dingell’s account on Tuesday tweeted: “Staff has now informed me of what a Kardashian is. I’m only left with more questions.”

The brief intersection between a celebrity and the federal agency in charge of tackling pollution gave an obscure EPA office a surge in popularity. Kardashian’s lavish wedding to Kanye West made international headlines, and her show “Keeping up with the Kardashians” has been popular on the E! network for nine seasons.

The agency took the mistake in jest. On Tuesday, the EPA account thanked Kardashian for its 15 minutes of fame.

“Whoops . our bad. Sorry about tweet,” the message read. “Upside – more attention for the Office of Water (water.epa.gov), thanks @KimKardashian.”