Sleuth wars, incels in STEM, and just want Harambe back
Top Comment
BBC
4.0 • 545 Ratings
🗓️ 29 May 2026
⏱️ 26 minutes
🧾️ Download transcript
Summary
An inquest is set to open on Friday into the deaths of three sisters whose bodies were recovered from the sea off the coast of Brighton. The case has led to rampant speculation online, particularly after it emerged that a widely shared image provided by family members appeared to be AI-generated. From unfounded conspiracies about serial killers, to a broader debate over the handling of cases involving black people, it has captivated TikTok sleuths, some of whom are even turning on each other.
Also this week - a decade on from his death, Matt and Marianna remember Harambe, the gorilla who achieved internet immortality. Plus, an intriguing job ad from a virtual relationship site, and the Fox News interview being reposted over false claims that a featured contributor was wearing a prosthetic mask.
Top Comment is hosted by Marianna Spring and Matt Shea. The series producer is Laurie Kalus. The social producer is Sophie Millward. The technical producer was Mike Regaard. The editor is Justine Lang. The senior news editor is Sam Bonham.
If you want to get in touch about something that's popped up on your feed, our email address is topcomment@bbc.co.uk or you can send us a WhatsApp on +44 330 123 9480.
Transcript
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| 0:00.0 | BBC Sounds, music radio podcasts. |
| 0:07.2 | Things just swirling around my head. |
| 0:09.6 | Am I really the product of this? |
| 0:12.1 | Astonishing secrets uncovered by at-home DNA tests. |
| 0:17.0 | Little did I know what more was to come. |
| 0:19.5 | I'm Jenny Clemen, and in the new series of The Gift, we'll hear more stories emerging out of the ever-expanding global DNA database. |
| 0:28.8 | They did know that I was different. |
| 0:31.7 | You had kids together. |
| 0:33.0 | Yeah. |
| 0:33.5 | Then you met. |
| 0:34.3 | Then we met. |
| 0:35.2 | The Gift. |
| 0:36.1 | Listen on BBC Sounds. |
| 0:39.5 | We're going to begin this episode of Top Comment with a moment of silence, Matt, for Harambe. |
| 0:45.9 | Ten years. |
| 0:48.3 | You look like you're going to cry. |
| 0:50.3 | Well, I'm doing a moment of silence. |
| 0:51.9 | Sorry, are you just going to edit in the moment of silence? |
| 0:55.5 | We can just sit and reflect for a moment on Harambe. |
| 1:00.6 | It's 10 years since Harambe died, and the reason we're talking about this is because the White House decided to commemorate the loss of an internet legend. |
| 1:11.9 | Harambe was 17 years old and he got shot because he was dragging a kid around an enclosure. |
| 1:16.4 | But then he just became the most meme-gorella. |
... |
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