The media frenzy surrounding Kate-gate went global, with talk shows dedicating entire segments to the news, while many stars had alluded to the story on social media.

As the speculation intensified, numerous celebs including Blake Lively, Kim Kardashian and Andy Cohen all made social media posts poking fun at Kate’s disappearance.

Kardashian recently posted a carousel of pictures of herself on Instagram with the caption: “On my way to go find Kate,” sparking backlash from some of her followers.

Lively, who’s best known for starring on Gossip Girl, also took advantage of the media attention on Kate, using it to promote her drinks brand.

The caption for the photo she posted, which was intentionally photoshopped to make fun of Kate’s infamous photoshop scandal, said: “I’m so excited to share this new photo I just took today to announce our 4 new @bettybuzz & @bettybooze products! Now you know why I’ve been MIA.”

Lively has since apologised for the post and deleted it following Kate’s heartbreaking announcement.

After she deleted her post, Lively shared on her Instagram Story that she was “mortified” by her post in light of Middleton’s diagnosis.

“I’m sure no one cares today but I feel like I have to acknowledge this. I made a silly post around the ‘photoshop fails’ frenzy, and oh man, that post has me mortified today,” she wrote. “I’m sorry. Sending love and well wishes to all, always.”

Cohen, who runs the Real Housewives franchise, made some comments in bad taste regarding rumours about Prince William’s alleged marriage issues.

Cohen, who has yet to remark on Kate’s diagnosis, also tweeted “that ain’t Kate” in response to the farmers market pictures, and doubled down on his podcast by saying “those were old photos.”

UK journalist Dan Wootten also slammed British radio host James Barr for wearing a “Free Kate” t-shirt this week.

In a scathing tweet, Wootten wrote: “You have no shame. But the internet doesn’t forget. Free Kate from what? Just disgusting and attention seeking, as I warned you last week.”

Meanwhile, some celebs have hit back at the furore surrounding Kate, with chat show host Jimmy Kimmel demanding social media “leave Kate alone” just hours before she revealed her health battle.

“Maybe it’s because I’m American but I don’t understand the craziness around this. Why do we have to know where she is? It’s not like she’s the bus driver,” Kimmel said.

Then his tone got a bit more serious as he said: “She had an operation, she had abdominal surgery. Maybe she has a colostomy bag and doesn’t want everybody to see it. I mean, really. People are demanding she get dressed up and march through London so we can have a look at her. Leave this woman alone!”

Jamie Lee Curtis took to Instagram to also condemn the public scrutiny around Middleton’s whereabouts.

“Can we please just STOP with this bulls**t conspiracy theory?” Curtis wrote. “This is a human being with young children, and clearly some sort of a health issue. That is a private matter. Do we not have better things to do and more important things to think about and be concerned about than this? It’s a really low point in our society when there are SO MANY crucial issues that need our attention.”

Kate first revealed her heartbreaking news in a post on social media, sharing that she has been undergoing cancer treatments.

“It has been an incredibly tough couple of months for our entire family, but I’ve had a fantastic medical team who have taken great care of me, for which I am so grateful,” she said before noting,

“In January, I underwent major abdominal surgery in London and at the time, it was thought that my condition was non-cancerous. The surgery was successful. However, tests after the operation found cancer had been present. My medical team therefore advised that I should undergo a course of preventive chemotherapy, and I am now in the early stages of that treatment.”