The Onion's Wild Take on Jeffrey Epstein

In an era where revered news outlets adapt, and late-night show humor becomes mundane, The Onion pushes boundaries further than ever before.

Tackling one of the most forbidden topics, The Onion features Jeffrey Epstein, the infamous financier and convicted sex offender, in their satirical documentary.

Spanning 20 minutes, this project combines biopic drama with crime satire, delivering a unique and foolishly comedic take. It is set to debut in theaters for a single day on October 2, across cities like New York, Minneapolis, Los Angeles, and San Francisco, before hitting online platforms.

The inspiration stemmed from former President Trump’s evasive responses to questions about Epstein, prompting Onion’s CEO, Ben Collins, and his team to develop the story in just six weeks.

Collins commented on the vast informational gaps, anticipating the humor in filling these voids with absurdity.

The narrative employs a fictitious voicemail that paints Trump as pivotal in orchestrating Epstein's demise, following his actual 2019 death, which was deemed a suicide officially.

The film pokes at typical true-crime storylines by featuring zany questions and characters, including a priest humorously dubbed a 'pedophile expert.'

The film propels an imagined tale featuring alleged interactions involving political titans like Prince Andrew and Bill Clinton, subtly blending truth with parody.

Originally, a wider distribution was planned, but complications following activist Charlie Kirk's death led The Onion to modify their release strategy.

Despite potential backlash when addressing Epstein's connections, Collins sees this as a societal failure rather than an issue arising from comedic expression.

The ongoing complexity of Epstein's story means the public might only have fragments of the full narrative for some time, but The Onion offers a satirical relief in the interim.

Collins asserts The Onion's commitment to fearless commentary, stating they will continue to express what others hesitate to divulge.