Gen Z Left at a Loss Over Celebrity Appearances in the Epstein Files
Peter Attia attends the premiere of “Limitless With Chris Hemsworth” at Jazz at Lincoln Center Nov. 15, 2022, in New York City. (Dia Dipasupil/Getty Images/TNS)
“I need to visit some time…” “Got a fresh shipment.” “Pussy is, indeed, low-carb.”
These are just a few of the messages between the now-deceased child sex offender Jeffrey Epstein and medical influencer Dr. Peter Attia that surfaced in early February, leading to Attia’s resignation from his position as a CBS News contributor later that month.
Attia is just one of multiple individuals to face repercussions as a direct result of his correspondence with Epstein, with public scorn being largely received from Gen Z.
On Jan. 30, the Department of Justice released more than 3 million pages of the Epstein files. The investigations into Epstein’s actions began in 2005, with legal action taken against him and his long-time associate Ghislaine Maxwell from 2019 to 2022.
There are many celebrities listed in the files, including President Donald Trump, businessman Elon Musk, Former President Bill Clinton, Former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, former comedian and actor Bill Cosby, and actor-filmmaker Woody Allen.
“It’s really messed up and kind of sad to see,” said Elmhurst University junior Alexa Torres.
A few of the celebrities mentioned above have made statements, including Hillary Clinton, who accused Trump and his team of a cover-up during an interview with the BBC, saying, “Get the files out. They are slow-walking it.”
Musk, who has confidently denied in interviews his communication with Epstein, explained how he was almost persuaded by Epstein to visit the island.
Bill Clinton gave his insights through a spokesperson who said that the White House is using him as a scapegoat.
Freshman Miguel Gardi is a Gen Z student at EU who strongly feels celebrities should not be given special treatment.
“I think if they were actually involved in any illegal activities, they should be held accountable,” said Gardi. “I mean, they’re not just celebrities; they’re regular people who did really horrible things.”
Famous people involved are not the only ones reacting. Gen Z has expressed outrage online, especially at Trump’s involvement. New polls show Trump’s approval ratings with Gen Z have dropped to their lowest levels since he started his second term. Social media posts on Instagram and X echo his approval rating falling among Gen Z.
Although a massive number of Epstein files have been released thus far, some files have been withheld or removed, specifically ones involving Trump, according to NPR.
“I don’t think it matters [which celebrities] it was,” said Gardi. “But if they were involved in any specific activities — not just simply mentioned — fuck them.”
CORRECTION: In a previous version of this article, Joe Biden was mentioned as being listed in the Epstein Files. Joe Biden was not implicated, or referenced in the Epstein Files. The Leader deeply regrets this error.
