From Fortnite to fake photos: Epstein alive conspiracies flood social media

• Conspiracy theories about Jeffrey Epstein being alive are trending online despite his death in 2019.
• Some rumors claim Epstein’s Fortnite account is still active, suggesting he is alive; this has been debunked by Epic Games.

A bizarre online theory spread rapidly after a massive tranche of Department of Justice files linked to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein was released.

Some social media users claimed an active Fortnite account with the username linked to Epstein (“littlestjeff1”) meant he was alive and playing the popular game years after his official 2019 death.

Epic Games, the developer behind Fortnite, has officially debunked this conspiracy.

Company representatives explained that the account was not tied to Epstein’s known email addresses and was simply a player who changed their username to match the one seen in court records. Fortnite’s tracking sites display only current usernames, not historical ones, leading to confusion and false speculation.

Epic CEO Tim Sweeney said the situation was a “ruse” orchestrated by a player seeking attention, and there is no evidence Epstein’s account remains active or that he is alive. This clarifies that the online trend linking him to ongoing game activity is a false rumor.

Viral Image Claiming Epstein Was Spotted in 'Israel' Is AI-Generated

Another widely-shared claim fueled the idea that Epstein is still alive, an image circulated on social media purporting to show him walking the streets of Tel Aviv, 'Israel'. Some posts asserted that this photo proved he had faked his death.

However, fact-checking organizations and digital investigators have confirmed the image is AI-generated and not genuine. Reverse searches show it originated from a Reddit forum dedicated to artificially generated images, and analysts found inconsistencies in Hebrew signage and digital watermarks embedded in the photo. This means the so-called “sighting” in 'Israel' does not depict the deceased financier and has no credible basis in reality.

New File Releases Spark Renewed Focus on Prison Footage and Questions

In addition to the above social media rumors, recently released Department of Justice documents have revived interest in surveillance footage from Epstein’s final hours in a New York City prison.

Some news outlets report that newly examined video logs show movement near Epstein’s jail tier on the night of his death that has raised questions among observers.

This reporting does not assert that Epstein is alive, but rather that the newly released files contain previously unseen footage and timing details that some researchers and journalists are analyzing for clarity about what occurred in the hours before his death. Such developments are likely to fuel further discussion, but they do not constitute proof that the widely spread conspiracies are true.

Why These Stories Gained Traction

The combination of millions of pages of newly released files, Epstein’s high-profile criminal history, and intense public interest has created an environment ripe for misinterpretations and internet conspiracy theories. Online platforms can rapidly circulate name similarities, screenshots, and AI-generated content that appear compelling at first glance but lack factual validation. Trusted sources and direct confirmations from companies like Epic Games help separate internet rumor from verifiable truth.