The 'Epstein Didn't Kill Himself' meme emerged following the death of financier Jeffrey Epstein in his jail cell in August 2019. Despite the official ruling of suicide, discrepancies in reporting and the high-profile nature of his connections led to widespread skepticism and online investigative theories. The phrase quickly evolved into a 'bait-and-switch' punchline, where users would provide helpful advice or mundane facts before abruptly ending with the statement. It transitioned from a serious political critique to a meta-humorous trope used to mock media narratives or simply disrupt online conversations with unexpected non-sequiturs.