NEW YORK—Causing a firestorm of outrage and morbid curiosity across the collectibles world, obscure toy manufacturer Twisted Nostalgia quietly released their new line of limited-edition Jeffrey Epstein action figures last Thursday, complete with removable prison jumpsuit and a miniature black book accessory that actually opens.
“Look, we never expected this to be mainstream—our Infamous Icons series caters to a very specific collector,” said Twisted Nostalgia founder Rick Harmon, nervously fidgeting with one of the 12-inch figures during an interview in his cramped Brooklyn office. “Yeah, the wrists can bend into different positions—’island host,’ ‘court appearance,’ whatever. And yeah, the Suicide Watch playset has a broken camera and a guard that’s asleep. People find dark humor in dark situations.”
The $299.99 collector’s item somehow sold through its initial production run of 500 units in under three hours, despite several victims’ advocacy groups condemning the product and every major retailer refusing to stock it. By Friday afternoon, unopened figures were popping up on eBay with asking prices north of $1,200.
Harmon, whose company operates out of a former vape shop in Bushwick, seemed genuinely surprised by the backlash. “We did market research. People collect weird shit. Always have,” he said, pointing to a wall of previous releases including figures of various cult leaders and dictators. “Remember when we tried to do the O.J. Simpson ‘Chase Edition’? His lawyers shut that down faster than a white Bronco on the 405.”
The deluxe version—which Harmon admitted was “probably crossing a line”—goes for $499.99 and includes a plastic replica of Epstein’s private jet nicknamed the “Lolita Express,” featuring detachable passenger seats and a tiny version of his Caribbean island. Each box contains a certificate of authenticity and what Harmon called “a gesture of goodwill”—a donation receipt showing that 0.05% of profits will go to victims’ support organizations.
“That’s like fifty cents per figure,” noted victims’ advocate Melissa Torres. “It’s beyond insulting.”
The collectors who managed to snag the figures have been vocal online. “Finally added this bad boy to my collection,” wrote Reddit user DeathMemento78, posting photos of the figure displayed alongside what appeared to be serial killer trading cards and mass shooter bobbleheads. “The neck actually moves and has these little purple marks. Sick detail.”
Dr. Sarah Mendelson, a psychologist specializing in trauma and media, wasn’t surprised by the product’s success. “There’s always been this weird fascination with notorious figures,” she said, sipping coffee in her Manhattan office. “People collected John Wilkes Booth memorabilia after Lincoln’s assassination. Ted Bundy’s Volkswagen sold for a small fortune. It’s disturbing but not new—we just package it differently now, with action figures instead of lockets of hair or whatever Victorians collected from murderers.”
Twisted Nostalgia’s spokesperson Jennifer Walsh, who identified herself as “just Rick’s cousin who majored in communications,” defended the product line while acknowledging its controversial nature. “We’re not saying Epstein was a hero. Obviously. But pretending these collectors don’t exist doesn’t make them go away,” she said. “At least we’re donating something to victims, which is more than most companies do.”
When reached for comment about their upcoming products, Walsh reluctantly confirmed rumors of a “Cellmates Series” two-pack featuring Epstein alongside a Ghislaine Maxwell figure with what the packaging calls “witness flipping action” and facial expressions ranging from “socialite smile” to “prison grimace.”
“We’re probably going to hell,” Walsh admitted, “but we’ll get there with empty inventory.”
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