Global icons scramble to distance themselves from 'Epstein shadow'
Harry Potter author JK Rowling categorically denied any link to Epstein, stating that neither she nor her team had ever met or communicated with the financier.
The global elite are currently engaged in a massive damage-control exercise following the release of the "Epstein Files," a staggering collection of documents, images, and videos detailing the network of the late convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.
The disclosure, sanctioned by the US Department of Justice after the Epstein Files Transparency Act passed with a near-unanimous 427–1 vote in November 2025, has forced a gallery of high-profile figures to issue public apologies, denials, and expressions of regret, reports Brut media.
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Former Microsoft CEO Bill Gates has once again found himself at the centre of public scrutiny, expressing deep regret over his past interactions with Epstein and apologising for the time spent with him.
The fallout has also touched his former wife, Melinda French Gates, who described the resurfacing of these details as personally harrowing, noting that the files bring back painful memories from her marriage.
Tech and media heavyweights are also among those seeking to clarify their roles.
LinkedIn co-founder Reid Hoffman admitted to a limited fundraising relationship involving MIT, a connection he now says he regrets.
Meanwhile, sports executive Casey Wasserman, who is currently at the helm of the Los Angeles Olympics organising committee, acknowledged being on Epstein's plane in 2002.
Wasserman clarified that he was part of a humanitarian delegation linked to the Clinton Foundation and maintained that he never had a personal or business relationship with Epstein.
While some expressed regret, others issued stern dismissals.
Harry Potter author JK Rowling categorically denied any link to Epstein, stating that neither she nor her team had ever met or communicated with the financier.
Similarly, film director Brett Ratner claimed he did not know Epstein personally, asserting that his presence at a related event was merely as a guest of his fiancée.
These responses come as investigators and the public sift through lakhs of documents that continue to peel back the layers of Epstein's influence.
As scrutiny around the Epstein files continues, these responses highlight how public figures are seeking to address their inclusion in the documents, even as investigations and public debate around the material remain ongoing.
