DeepSummary
The podcast episode features a discussion with Mike Rugnetta, an audio extraordinaire and co-host of the 'Neverpost' podcast, about the disappearance of Kate Middleton, the Princess of Wales, from public view for over two months in early 2024. They explore how this event captured the internet's attention and sparked widespread speculation and conspiracy theories.
The hosts analyze the key ingredients that contributed to the 'monocultural' phenomenon surrounding Kate's absence, such as the information gap, compelling characters (including rich people and potential perpetrators), someone being trapped or isolated, and the inflection point into tragedy when Kate revealed her cancer diagnosis. They examine how the palace's lack of transparency fueled the online discourse.
The discussion touches on the broader implications of the internet's collective reaction, questioning the appropriateness of speculating on such events and the role of empathy in online discourse. The hosts reflect on how the palace's handling of the situation both enabled and ultimately addressed the rampant conspiracy theories that emerged during Kate's absence.
Key Episodes Takeaways
- The disappearance of Kate Middleton from public view for over two months in early 2024 sparked widespread online speculation and conspiracy theories, fueled by the palace's lack of transparency.
- Key ingredients that contributed to this 'monocultural' internet phenomenon included an information gap, compelling characters (rich people and potential perpetrators), someone being trapped or isolated, and an inflection point into tragedy.
- The palace's handling of the situation, including the release of an edited family photo, further escalated the online discourse and conspiracy theories surrounding Kate's absence.
- The episode reflects on the appropriateness of such online speculation and the role of empathy in internet discourse, drawing comparisons to events like the Ocean Gate tragedy.
- The discussion raises broader questions about the factors that can capture the internet's collective attention and create rare 'monocultural' moments in an increasingly fragmented online landscape.
- The hosts analyze how the palace's eventual revelation of Kate's cancer diagnosis effectively addressed the speculation but also highlighted the institution's struggles with transparency and communication in the digital age.
- The episode examines the implications of the internet's collective reaction to Kate's absence, questioning how society should approach such events and balance speculation with empathy in online discourse.
Top Episodes Quotes
- “So in that case, who would the perpetrator?“ by Mike Rugnetta
- “And it gets worse.“ by Mike Rugnetta
- “So, I mean, this is the moment where the whole thing goes off to the races, because there's so many questions about what is happening that it's not whether you believe a conspiracy theory, it's. Which conspiracy theory at this point have you chosen to believe?“ by Mike Rugnetta
- “It's interesting to compare all of this to something like Ocean Gate, which was received less sympathetically pretty much immediately, and, like, almost all the way across the board.“ by Mike Rugnetta
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Episode Information
ICYMI
Slate Podcasts
5/8/24
This week, ICYMI and the Never Post podcast are collaborating on two episodes surrounding 2024’s biggest internet monocultural moment: Kate Middleton’s disappearance. It’s been more than a month since Kate announced she’d started preventative chemotherapy treatments following a cancer diagnosis. Which means it’s also been just over a month since conspiracy theories about the princess ran rampant across the internet. As an increasingly algorithmic internet silos us further into our own little content niches, all-consuming events like Kate Middleton’s disappearance are fewer and far between. So what does it take, in 2024, to capture the internet’s attention and create these rare monocultural moments?
This podcast is produced by Se’era Spragley Ricks, Daisy Rosario, Candice Lim and Rachelle Hampton.
This episode was made in collaboration with the Never Post team, which includes Hans Buetow, Mike Rugnetta, Jason Oberholtzer and Wil Williams.
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