There is nothing worse than taking a great photo… and then not being able to use it.
And trust me, this was a great photo.
New Year’s Eve, all of us together, everyone looked amazing, the energy was perfect. One of those rare group shots you actually want to post immediately.
So of course I asked if I could post it. He said yes. Just no mention of anything related to Epstein.
Done. Easy. Respect.
Except… not so easy.
Because somewhere between trying to tag him and trying to be efficient, I found what I thought was his account.
It looked real. It felt real. It even made sense in that slightly ridiculous internet way.
So I tagged him. Invited him to collaborate. Posted.
Then I texted him, “Accept my collab.”
And he wrote back, “What’s a collab?”
That was the moment.
The exact moment I knew I had a problem.
Because if he doesn’t know what a collab is… that is definitely not his account.
Meanwhile, the fake account accepted the collaboration, and the post started taking off. Fast. Within 24 hours it hit 90,000 views.
And then came the message.
“I told you no Epstein.”
I didn’t say it. I didn’t write it. But the account name said everything.
And just like that, my great photo became something else entirely.
I took it down immediately.
Because at the end of the day, this wasn’t about views or engagement or going viral. It was about respecting someone who got pulled into something he never asked for.
But here’s the part no one talks about.
It was still a great photo.
And honestly, that might be the most frustrating part of all of this.
What This Actually Taught Me
The internet is messy. Viral moments are messier.
Fake accounts are everywhere, especially when someone becomes a storyline overnight.
And even when you do everything right, one small detail can change the entire meaning of what you post.
The Real Question
Do I repost it?
Because part of me says let it go.
And part of me is like… it’s too good of a picture to die in my camera roll.
Stay tuned.
