The administrators for the official X account for the Republicans of the House Judiciary Committee deceived people on Thursday with a prank that many have blasted as inappropriate.
After it was announced that the much-awaited files in the case of Jeffrey Epstein would be released on Thursday, the House Judiciary GOP X account made a misleading post, leading people to believe it was posting a link to access the information.
“#BREAKING: EPSTEIN FILES RELEASED,” the post read. Then, a website link was provided that insinuated that if clicked, it would lead people to the files. Instead, the link redirected people to the music video of Rick Astley’s 1987 hit song “Never Gonna Give You Up.” It is an internet prank that has been popular since the mid-2000s.
[embedded content]
As part of the joke, users click on a link they believe will send them to a site with critical information, only to be redirected to the music video of Astley’s hit song. It is known as “rickrolling.”
However, given the sensitive nature of the Epstein files and the horrific crimes that Jeffrey Epstein was involved in, many derided the attempt at humor as insensitive, inappropriate, and an embarrassing decision. Many took to X to voice their displeasure with the House Judiciary Republicans on the social media platform.
“In case you haven’t seen enough [clown emoji] stuff today – we have the official X account of the House Judiciary GOP using a tinyurl to Rickroll people, claiming it’s the Epstein files,” said editor and investigative journalist Jennifer Van Laar.
“This is the official X account for the House Judiciary Committee using the Epstein files as an occasion for a corny Rickroll joke,” said Matt Walsh, podcast host and political commentator. “Just a stunning lack of judgment by the people responsible for this account. Truly mind boggling.”
“Let’s remember that the actual Epstein files — wherever they are, and if we ever see them — detail the systematic rape of minors,” Walsh added. “Not exactly fodder for lighthearted jokes, especially by government officials.”
BONDI ACCUSES FBI OF WITHHOLDING ‘THOUSANDS OF PAGES’ OF EPSTEIN FILES
Most of the feedback on the attempted joke seemed overwhelmingly negative and critical of the decision to rickroll users on the day the Epstein files were promised to be released to the public.
After much criticism, the X account for the House Judiciary GOP deleted the post on Thursday night.
