A screenshot of a Google search result for the phrase 'Walt Disney buys island' was shared in an April 7 Facebook post. The post also included the first paragraph of a news story and a photo of Jeffrey Epstein, the disgraced late financier.
"The Walt Disney Company buys Epstein Island," reads the opening line of the article screenshot.
Disney Didn't But Jeffrey Epstein's Island
An intriguing structure with blue stripes can be seen perched on a lookout point on Little St. James Island, located in the US Virgin Islands. This particular property is owned by Jeffrey Epstein.
In a video created by an account called Mouse Trap News, false statements are attributed to the Disney company, claiming that they plan to include Jeffrey Epstein's island as a destination on their cruise ships.
The video makes a false claim about Disney's alleged purchase of the island for $3 billion, going as far as suggesting the construction of a theme park, according to Gizmodo.
Mouse Trap News features a wide range of videos about Disney on its website and social media page. And although some have labeled it as "satire," it is evident why many individuals online take the account's videos seriously.
The false information about Disney buying Jeffrey Epstein's island seems to have attracted the most interest from individuals on the internet who are easily convinced, particularly those who are willing to pay $8 for a verification badge.
Disney, Jeffrey Epstein Often Linked in Social Media Posts
Despite being called out for spreading false information, these accounts continue to stubbornly cling to the notion that there might be some validity to their claims.
However, there have been previous instances where false news stories involving Disney and Epstein have spread on social media. According to Snopes, there was a claim made in the summer of 2023 regarding Disney cruise lines making a stop on Epstein's island in the Virgin Islands, specifically Little St. James.
In the summer of 2019, Epstein, who had a history as a convicted sex offender, was discovered deceased in a New York jail cell. This unfortunate event occurred shortly after he was apprehended on fresh charges related to sex trafficking.
Jeffrey Epstein's death was widely questioned by skeptics who doubted the official suicide narrative. This skepticism stemmed from Epstein's connections to influential individuals who may have had motives to eliminate him.
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