Members of Foster The People attend the Sixth Annual UNICEF Masquerade Ball at Clifton's Republic on October 25, 2018 in Los Angeles, California.
David Livingston/Getty
When you think of Foster The People, lots of things come to mind: First up is "Pumped Up Kicks," the indie-pop band's 2010 smash hit. After that there is... OK, so there's only really one thing people remember about the group. Get ready to add a second fact to the list, though, because whoever has the keys to the @fosterthepeople Twitter account is in off the deep end of Jeffrey Epstein conspiracy theories.
have you seen photos of the body? it’s obviously not him. my guess is, epstein’s on a private plane to somewhere in the middle east getting prepped for plastic surgery right now #EpsteinBodyDouble
— Foster The People (@fosterthepeople) August 11, 2019
Epstein, the billionaire financier awaiting federal child sex trafficking charges, died by suicide over the weekend. This led to a wave of galaxy-brained ideas about what *really* happened to a well-connected pedophile, with links to Presidents both past and present, hitting the internet.
Enter Foster The People, whose Twitter account has become an unlikely source of theories surrounding Epstein's death. "have you seen photos of the body?" asked an unnamed member of the group in a tweet sent shortly after the news broke on Saturday. "it’s obviously not him. my guess is, epstein’s on a private plane to somewhere in the middle east getting prepped for plastic surgery right now." This tweet was capped off with the hashtag "#EpsteinBodyDouble."
A subsequent thread, posted on Monday, involved Foster The People calling on the media to "do a better job" in reporting on the death and defending a musician's right to speak out on the subject. This includes the suggestion that "there is no QUESTION the government is behind the #EpsteinSuicideCoverUp."
i find it strange that i’ve been chastised by reporters from NBC and other news outlets for my opinion. everything you guys have been reporting has been conjecture. if you want to be considered a respected authority of truth, do a better job. #EpsteinBodyDouble pic.twitter.com/3TWkAYYuRn
— Foster The People (@fosterthepeople) August 12, 2019
and to anyone else who considers it “off brand” for an artist to talk about social issues, cover-ups, and justice.. A. you need a history lesson B. you’re scared of what i’m saying C. my voice is my brand, whether it’s used to speak or sing
— Foster The People (@fosterthepeople) August 12, 2019
the problem with a case like this, is that the public will forget about in a week. media will change headlines to another story and stop covering it. they already have. and it will be easily swept under the rug. just like the stephen paddock mass shooting.
— Foster The People (@fosterthepeople) August 12, 2019
there is no QUESTION the government is behind the #EpsteinSuicideCoverUp . Research Attorney General Bill Barr and his father’s ties with Jeffrey Epstein. Barr helped broker the west palm beach “deal” that kept Epstein away from a life sentence in federal prison 🤮
— Foster The People (@fosterthepeople) August 12, 2019
more than ever artists need to speak up, because they’re not getting paid by sponsors or told how to spin a story by their bosses. rupert murdoch isn’t controlling their narrative. support your artists. support real journalism. fact check everything. do your own research.
— Foster The People (@fosterthepeople) August 12, 2019
Foster The People released its latest album Sacred Hearts Club in 2017. The FADER has reached out for comment on the tweets.
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