Why I Decided to Speak With Soft White Underbelly

Recently, I made the decision to participate in an interview with Soft White Underbelly. Some people have asked why I would agree to do media after previously stating that I would not. I think the honest answer deserves some context.

When I made the post saying I would not participate in media, it was made out of a moment of anger and frustration. At that time, Pondi had publicly stated that everything related to the Epstein investigation had already been released. Hearing that was deeply upsetting to me because from my perspective, and from what I know firsthand, that statement is simply not true.

There is still a great deal that has never been released or acknowledged.

For survivors, statements like that can feel incredibly dismissive. It can sound as though the story is finished, the truth has been fully told, and there is nothing left to uncover. But many of us know that is not the reality.

When I made that post, I was reacting emotionally. I was angry because people were blatantly lying about the scope of what has actually been disclosed. In that moment, I wanted nothing to do with media or interviews and felt taken advantage of as some political prop.

After taking some time to step back and think about it more clearly, I reconsidered my decision.

Silence doesn’t correct the narrative. Silence doesn’t help people understand what survivors experienced. And silence certainly doesn’t challenge misinformation.

That realization is ultimately what led me to say yes to Soft White Underbelly.

The platform has built a reputation for allowing people to tell difficult life stories in their own words. My goal in doing the interview isnt to sensationalize trauma or revisit painful experiences for attention. My goal is simply to speak honestly about my experience and allow my story to exist outside of headlines, speculation, and other people’s interpretations.

For years, much of the public conversation about Epstein victims has happened without survivors having full control over how their stories are told. Interviews like this provide an opportunity to reclaim some of that voice.

Changing my mind about media was not about reversing my values. It was about recognizing that sometimes the best way to push back against misinformation is to speak clearly and directly.

Advocating for truth and for survivors does not always happen in a straight line. Sometimes emotions are raw. Sometimes perspectives shift with time. What matters is continuing to move forward with honesty and intention.

This interview is one way for me to do that. And for the first time I will bear it all the the world!

—
Wendy Pesante