'It’s to muddy the waters': Epstein files face scrutiny after redacted Dan Bilzerian and Post Malone image resurfaces from photo posted online years ago
Nillohit Bagchi | Feb 04, 2026, 10:57 IST
A redacted 2018 party photo of Dan Bilzerian and Post Malone appearing inside newly released Epstein files has sparked doubts online. Since the original image was publicly posted years ago, many now question why such unrelated content is being included in serious federal investigative documents.
Image credit : X/@FearBuck | A redacted 2018 party photo of Dan Bilzerian and Post Malone appearing inside newly released Epstein files has sparked doubts online
Fresh questions are swirling around the latest Epstein file release after a familiar celebrity photo unexpectedly appeared inside official documents. The image shows Dan Bilzerian and Post Malone relaxing on a couch with two women, but in the files their faces are blacked out. What puzzled people is simple.
The same unedited photo was posted by Bilzerian himself on social media back in 2018. Now, years later, it sits inside a government document as part of the Epstein investigation archive. The strange inclusion has triggered confusion online. Many are now wondering whether irrelevant material is being mixed into serious files, making it harder to separate fact from noise.
The image in question is not secret. It is not newly discovered. It is a party style photo originally uploaded by Dan Bilzerian on Instagram and Facebook in 2018. In it, he sits with Post Malone while two women sit nearby.
Inside the newly released Epstein documents, the same image appears again. This time, the women’s faces are covered with black marks. The document label tied to it raised eyebrows immediately because there is no known link between this image and Epstein’s crimes. For many observers, the question was immediate. Why is a publicly posted party photo inside federal investigative files years later?The same unedited photo was posted by Bilzerian himself on social media back in 2018. Now, years later, it sits inside a government document as part of the Epstein investigation archive. The strange inclusion has triggered confusion online. Many are now wondering whether irrelevant material is being mixed into serious files, making it harder to separate fact from noise.
The photo that sparked the debate
Dan Bilzerian responds after a photo of him and Post Malone appeared in the newly released Epstein files, which were redacted, despite the unredacted version already being posted on his personal social media accounts.
“Every pic I posted on my IG is in the files w girls faces… pic.twitter.com/qmKlyxs3Nl
— FearBuck (@FearedBuck) February 3, 2026
Dan Bilzerian’s calm response on X
That single line added fuel to the debate. His reply suggested this was not a one off. It hinted that multiple social media photos may have been copied into the files in the same way.
Every pic I posted on my IG is in the files w girls faces blacked out
— Dan Bilzerian (@DanBilzerian) February 3, 2026
Netizens think this ‘muddies the waters’
One user on X said, “We’re all distracted by celebrities while the real big fish slip away unnoticed.” On Instagram, a commenter wrote, “The DOJ is using the Epstein files to target people who call them out.” A Reddit thread discussing the photo gained strong engagement, with users accusing authorities of “trying to muddy the waters by including stuff like this.”
Speculation has grown around why investigators would even archive such an image. Some users believe Epstein or his associates may have scanned social media profiles to identify women they could approach. One X user wrote, “I think he was scouting women on Bilzerian’s page.”
Theories about why the image was collected
Others think the image was simply part of a massive digital sweep where anything remotely connected to wealthy or famous circles was saved without deeper context. There is also a smaller group who believe the inclusion feels retaliatory because Bilzerian has previously criticised figures linked to Epstein’s circle.
Importantly, there are no accusations connecting Bilzerian or Post Malone to Epstein’s crimes. Media outlets that reported on the story made this clear. The confusion lies only in why the image is present in official records at all.
That detail is what has turned this from a celebrity curiosity into a larger discussion about how these files are being presented to the public.
The U.S. Department of Justice has released thousands of Epstein related pages over the years. The aim is transparency. But moments like this are making some people question the curation process.
One viral post summed up the mood online. “Got no doubt it’s to muddy the waters and make it harder to verify the real vile stuff.” As more documents continue to come out, many are now demanding clarity on how materials are selected and why publicly available content is appearing inside sensitive investigative archives.
No allegations against Bilzerian or Post Malone
That detail is what has turned this from a celebrity curiosity into a larger discussion about how these files are being presented to the public.
Bigger questions about the Epstein file releases
What should alarm us about the Epstein files isn’t just the appalling details.
It is the degree to which enormously wealthy and powerful people live by their own rules — and continue to get away with it.
It’s a club where the rules and the law don't apply. And you’re not in it.
— Bernie Sanders (@BernieSanders) February 2, 2026
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