Epstein 'Walk of Shame' Stars Appear at SXSW

Star-shaped decals naming figures linked to Jeffrey Epstein appeared on Brazos Street during the South by Southwest Conference and Festivals in Austin. The display, styled after the Hollywood Walk of Fame, is called the "Jeffrey Epstein Walk of Shame" and features 31 stars with the names of the disgraced financier's rich and powerful associates. Each star includes a unique QR code linking to documents from the recently released files related to Epstein's sex trafficking case, explaining the individual's inclusion.

Jeph Clark, a doorman at a Brazos Street business, told the American-Statesman the stars were installed between 2 and 4 a.m. on Saturday, March 14, 2026. "He was putting them down really fast, with a rolling thing," Clark said. "Just one guy. Little victories, right?"

The identity of the artist is unknown. By early evening on Saturday, two prominent names—President Donald Trump and tech giant Elon Musk—had been ripped off the sidewalk, though their QR codes remained intact. "Trump's star—I just scanned it—was six pages long," Clark added.

Melanie Richardson, a festival badge holder and volunteer, was photographed taking pictures of the stars and expressed support for the project. "I'm really into it," Richardson said. She noticed the stars while in line for a T-shirt and returned to document them.

A similar "Walk of Shame" installation with identical stars appeared earlier in March in Farragut Square in Washington D.C.