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Since the release of more than 20,000 pages of documents involving the controversial late Jeffrey Epstein, some politicians and public figures who were allegedly mentioned in the emails are now being scrutinized by the public. One of them is former Harvard president and current professor Larry Summers, who recently opened his lecture by addressing his appearance in the Epstein emails. However, netizens who watched the moment on TikTok were not only stunned by his remarks, but also by the fact that the Massachusetts students continued sitting calmly in their seats.
His Opening Remark
Inside the classroom, Summers sat at the front of the lecture hall with presumably his co-instructor as students listened from the tiered rows of a packed auditorium. The lecture screen displayed the day’s topic, “The G20: Multilateralism and Its Future,” but instead of jumping into the material, Summers began by referencing his public statement issued to POLITICO, where he said he was “deeply ashamed” of his actions and acknowledged “the pain they have caused.”
To the students, he said, “Some of you will have seen my statement of regret expressing my shame with respect to what I did in communication with Mr. Epstein.” He continued by explaining that he had already announced he would be “stepping back from public life for a time,” but emphasized that he believed it was “very important to fulfill [his] teaching obligations.” He then told the students, “So with your permission, we’re going to go forward and talk about the material in class,” a phrasing that many online critics have accused of being manipulative.
Here’s What People Are Saying on TikTok
A lot of netizens expressed disbelief that no one had walked out after hearing his remarks or even objected. One person wrote, “I am ashamed of all of these students.” Another asked, “Why aren’t y’all booing him?” A third said, “And y’all just SAT THERE?????? Y’all ain’t angry enough.” A fourth added, “Yea the students did not pass the vibe check.”
Someone else was even shocked that Summers was still allowed in the classroom. “How has he not been fired?!” they wrote.
Meanwhile, a few viewers defended the students, arguing that their presence didn’t mean acceptance – it meant practicality. One comment read, “Hey guys, those people want to pass the classes they paid for, so they aren’t leaving.” Another commenter added, “Harvard should take action. Not the students. They’ve paid and busted their rears too long to have to enforce justice.”
