Source: https://xcancel.com/dshiatt/status/1840822267737162237
Obviously just damage control but they do seem to be “fixing it”. They must’ve accidentally implemented a feature to get and show image from the newest news post (which is often an ad), accidentally tested and vetted that feature, and accidentally pushed it.
Ah yes it’s always a bug after massive community backlash. If there wasn’t much, it’d have been a test, and if there wasn’t any, it was always intended.