Pastels and Pedophiles
- 256 pages
- 9 hours of reading
In January 2021, thousands gathered at the U.S. Capitol in support of President Donald Trump, driven by a belief in a shadowy cabal of Satan-worshipping pedophiles. Among them were two women who lost their lives that day, part of "pastel QAnon," a group of mostly middle-class educated women motivated by the call to "save the children." Mia Bloom and Sophia Moskalenko explore the rise of pastel QAnon, revealing how women have been manipulated into following this baseless conspiracy. They trace QAnon's unexpected transition from obscure online spaces to mainstream platforms like Instagram, fueled by the COVID-19 pandemic, which intensified conspiracy theories and led to a new wave of violence. The authors connect the dots, showing how this conspiracy, rooted in centuries-old anti-Semitic hate, has evolved to address local grievances and has spread globally, attracting a diverse group of disillusioned individuals. While QAnon claims to oppose Hollywood, the book illustrates how much of its mythology draws from popular culture. Ultimately, the authors propose strategies to counter QAnon's damaging influence and help its followers return to reality.
