Slate Daily Feed ICYMI - Stop Memeing the Epstein Files
Feb 11, 2026
Kat Tenbarge, a journalist who covers internet culture and online communities, explains how Jeffrey Epstein became a meme. They unpack viral AI vids and meme trends that turn files into social currency. Conversation covers sloppy redactions, conspiratorial readings, and how jokes erase survivors. The discussion ends with calls to center survivor-led spaces and cultural responsibility.
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Epstein Files As Entertainment
- The Epstein files are being treated like entertainment drops rather than serious evidence.
- That meme-ification risks minimizing crimes and centering shock over victims' experiences.
AI Meme That Shocked Timelines
- Kat Tenbarge describes viral AI videos imagining Epstein intercepting a bullet meant for Charlie Kirk.
- Those posts gained millions of views and exemplify shock-driven humor detached from victims.
Poor Redactions Put Survivors At Risk
- The DOJ released heavily redacted files with inconsistent redactions that sometimes expose victims.
- Sloppy releases endanger survivors and signal institutional neglect rather than accountability.