What to Know
An Epstein files-themed float in St. Patrick’s Day parades in Ireland is being called out for making light of sexual violence. The float, which critics have described as horrible and misogynistic, showed people chasing young women and holding a woman down on a mattress.
It also featured signs that read, “Epstein Files,” and “Prince Andrew goin [sic] to jail,” per the BBC. Instead of raising awareness or speaking out on behalf of survivors of sexual abuse, the float appeared to mock them and normalize sexual assault.
Parade organizers later apologized.
@amgigimserembo I was live in Ballinrobe co Mayo #ireland #stpatricks #gigimserembo #malawitiktok🇲🇼 ♬ original sound – Gigi
But, of course, that doesn’t erase the harm the float caused. According to the organizers of the St. Patrick’s Day event in Ballinrobe, the event is community-led and “there is no entry, registration or vetting process” for the floats, the BBC reported. They apologized and said in a statement, “As members of this community, as parents, and as volunteers, we want to state clearly that we condemn sexual violence, abuse and exploitation in all forms.”
Sadly, the float also appeared in a nearby parade, and the situation was quite similar. No one knew that it would be there until it was already too late.
It’s gotten a lot of attention on social media.
@aoifegracemoore Some thoughts on Ballinrobe St Patrick’s Day parade in Ireland yesterday. We will never solve this by minimising other people’s trauma. #ireland #feminism #irishnews ♬ original sound – aoifegracemoore
Independent journalist Aoife-Grace Moore made a video condemning the parade float. On TikTok, she said the Epstein files float is a clear example of why sexual assault survivors are hesitant to come forward in Ireland. She explained, “St. Patrick’s Day parades often have floats that depict big events throughout the year. They’re usually funny. Sometimes they are tongue-in-cheek.”
Of course, the Epstein files have been on people’s minds lately, but there’s nothing funny about the St. Patrick’s Day float depicting the files. “What we saw in Ballinrobe was a mimicking of the Epstein files,” the journalist continued. “There were young women running around the float and people chasing them. At one point, they had a bed on the float and they simulated holding a woman down and raping her.”
She added, “And it’s St. Patrick’s Day, so there were children everywhere…and even now, there are people defending this. Defending the trivialization of sexual abuse of minors, of young people, of women.” According to her, some people have argued it’s just a joke and should not be taken “so seriously.”
But what’s funny about it? “How can anyone not take this seriously?” she questioned. “What is more serious than the Epstein files?”
In the comments, people were horrified. “I actually have no words,” one person wrote. Someone else said, “Every day I’m more and more disappointed by humanity 😔”
Several organizations have spoken out about it.
The Dublin Rape Crisis Centre’s chief executive, Rachel Morrogh, said, “The float is further evidence of a lack of awareness of the impact of sexual violence and of the harm and trauma it causes. Parading acts of sexual violence through our main streets and turning rape and assault into a joke trivializes and stigmatizes the experiences of victims and survivors,” per The Guardian.
Dr. Clíona Saidléar from Rape Crisis Ireland called the float “an act of public grooming that normalizes rape and sexual violence,” per the BBC.
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