The Talbert Files

Overview

The Talbert Files is a collection of leaked files purportedly from an old, unreleased version of the Five Nights at Freddy's book The Freddy Files, a book that explains lore regarding the series. The leak first surfaced online in early April 2024 and was purportedly leaked by now-deleted X user @entom_dp, becoming increasingly popular throughout the month leading into May. Early that month, FNAF creator Scott Cawthon responded to discourse surrounding the leak, claiming that it is fake, although some believed it was being covered up.

Background

On April 5th, 2024, Spanish X^[1] user @JaceSonArtix shared a series of posts claiming that an old, unreleased version of what appeared to be The Freddy Files was discovered, crediting now-deleted X user @entom_dp for the discovery (shown below). The post claims that The Talbert Files, titled this because they are purportedly narrated from the perspective of FNAF character Dr. Talbert as he tries to piece together the lore, contain major changes to the lore and lore reveals that fill in gaps in the story.

The purported leak also included an email purportedly sent by Cawthon to the would-be publisher where he suggests the publisher can "do whatever they want" with the book and release it as fan-fiction if they wish.

On April 6th, u/sac_112 made a post to /r/fivenightsatfreddys^[2] about the leak where they ask about its authenticity and list some of the major lore details that @JaceSonArtix claims are contained in The Talbert Files, writing:

• Henry and Charlie didn't existed in the original timeline before SL (being retconed apparently)

• "Emmet" and Cassidy take the role of Henry and Charlie originally

• "Emmet Tucker" being the father of Cassidy

• "Emmet" being the creator of the Mediocre Melodies

• "Emmet" creating Happy frog based on Cassidy

• The name of Phone Guy being "Steve Callahan"

• Cassidy posessing both Puppet and Golden Freddy

• The names of the MCI (he didn't said them in the Tweets but we already know them)

• A speech by William Afton in the book

• "Emmet" being the one blamed for MCI

• Cassidy drawing Shadow Freddy and RWQ. in a drawing of her "Happiest Day"

• Cassidy Dying in Halloween

• "Steve" (Phone Guy) being a friend of "Emmet" (father of Cassidy)

• Cassidy calling Phone Guy "uncle Steve"

Developments

Rumors and speculation about The Talbert Files continued to spread over the following weeks, with some purporting it to be real and others purporting it to be fake. On April 29th, 2024, X^[3] user @UnderScorePNG shared a post about The Talbert Files including a Google Drive^[4] link consisting of the leak files.

Scott Cawthon's Statement

On May 2nd, 2024, FNAF creator Scott Cawthon posted a statement to /r/fivenightsatfreddys^[5] about The Talbert Files, claiming the purportedly leaked email is fake and ultimately concluding, "I can pretty confidently say that The Talbert File is fake, and not an unreleased Freddy Files. It looks completely unfamiliar to me, and not something Scholastic would have put together. It also mentions characters that weren't created until years later. Pretty sure it's fake, folks." The post gained over 1,900 upvotes in a day (shown below).

Online Presence

The Talbert Files inspired significant discussions within the FNAF fandom, along with discussions over their legitimacy. On May 2nd, 2024, following Cawthon's statement that the leak was fake, YouTuber^[6] Chazington posted a video explaining both The Talbert Files and the PinkyPills controversy, garnering over 44,000 views in under a day (shown below).

Search Interest

External References