Zepotha is a nonexistent movie created as part of a hoax by TikTok user Emily Jeffri in August 2023. A similar meme, Goncharov, had emerged on Tumblr nine months earlier, prompting comparisons between the two.[1][2][3]

Creation

Zepotha as a concept was created on August 12, 2023 by Emily Jeffri when she posted a TikTok urging users to perpetuate a false 1980s horror movie as a "bit".[4][5]

new bit idea: what if we created a fake 80s horror movie called 'Zepotha'...we can convince thousands of people that this weirdly titled 80s horror film actually exists

— Emily Jeffri, TikTok

The video reached over 5.1 million views,[6] and the Zepotha hashtag reached over 84.1 million views on TikTok.[2] Misinformation quickly spread throughout TikTok and other social media platforms, which led many users to believe that Zepotha was real or a Mandela Effect.[7] Users created a "Which Zepotha character are you?" filter[8][9] which includes characters like Alaine, Cole, Danny, Maxine, Rita, and Vincent, who are commonly referenced when speaking about the movie.[9][10] Actress Maria Canals-Barrera also posted about the movie claiming she had seen it.[8][6]

Jeffri created Zepotha to market her album,[11][1] Soundtrack for an 80s Horror Movie, which came out on August 25, 2023.[12][2] Jeffri's music is used in the background of her viral video and many other videos discussing Zepotha.[8][6][2] However, Jeffri's attempts to further capitalise on the meme's virality caused backlash.[13]

See also

References

  1. 1 2 Diaz, Ana (2023-08-14). "TikTok has invented a fake '80s horror movie named Zepotha". Polygon. Retrieved 2023-08-15. Zepotha really just seems like TikTok's take on Goncharov...So far, Zepotha hasn't reached the same depth of planning, and it's prompted a bit of a rivalry between the two films.
  2. 1 2 3 4 Rosenblatt, Kalhan (2023-08-14). "'Zepotha' is social media's favorite film — but it doesn't exist". NBCNews.com. Retrieved 2023-08-15. "Zepotha" is not the first fake film to go viral. Last year, Tumblr users became obsessed with "Goncharov,"...It garnered similar fervor from people online
  3. ↑ Kemp, Ellie (2023-08-15). "Who is Emily Jeffri? The independent artist behind TikTok's Zepotha trend". Manchester Evening News. Retrieved 2023-08-16. Last winter, a meme of a similar nature...on Tumblr...resulted in the concept of Goncharov
  4. ↑ "'Zepotha': The horror movie going viral on TikTok that doesn't exist". Mashable. 2023-08-14. Retrieved 2023-08-15.
  5. ↑ Sung, Morgan (2023-08-18). "Zepotha is huge on TikTok, but it's no Goncharov". TechCrunch. Retrieved 2023-09-11.
  6. 1 2 3 "What Is 'Zepotha?' Here's What You Need to Know About TikTok's Fake Viral Movie". Cosmopolitan. 2023-08-14. Retrieved 2023-08-15.
  7. ↑ "What is the viral TikTok 'horror movie' Zepotha?". HeraldScotland. 2023-08-13. Retrieved 2023-08-13.
  8. 1 2 3 Russell, Erica (2023-08-13). "What Is 'Zepotha'? Solving the Mystery Surrounding TikTok's Favorite Fake '80s Movie". PopCrush. Retrieved 2023-08-14.
  9. 1 2 Team, Centennial (2023-08-14). "What Is Zepotha? The Imaginary Movie Taking Over TikTok". Centennial World: Internet Culture, Creators & News. Retrieved 2023-08-14.
  10. ↑ "What is the viral TikTok 'horror movie' Zepotha?". York Press. 2023-08-13. Retrieved 2023-08-15.
  11. ↑ Fadel, Leila; Martin, Michel (2023-08-17). "The hype for a fake movie, 'Zepotha,' goes viral on Tiktok". NPR. Retrieved 2023-08-17.
  12. ↑ "Is The 'Zepotha' Movie TikTokers Keep Talking About Even Real? It's Complicated". Bustle. 2023-08-21. Retrieved 2023-08-25.
  13. ↑ Rowan, Iona (2023-08-22). "Why has viral fake TikTok movie Zepotha created a backlash?". Digital Spy. Retrieved 2023-08-25.
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