Several well-known public figures have issued statements after their names surfaced in the Epstein files, a large collection of documents linked to the criminal activities of convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.
The files, released by the US Department of Justice, reportedly include lakhs of documents, images and videos detailing Epstein’s network, associations and movements. Their release followed the passage of the Epstein Files Transparency Act by the US Parliament on 18 November 2025, which was approved with a 427–1 vote.
In the days after the release, individuals named in the files responded publicly, with many expressing regret over past associations and distancing themselves from Epstein.
Former Microsoft CEO Bill Gates said he regretted his interactions with Epstein, apologising for spending time with him. His ex wife, Melinda French Gates, described the resurfacing of such details as personally difficult, saying it brought back painful memories from her marriage.
LinkedIn co-founder Reid Hoffman said his connection to Epstein was limited to a fundraising relationship involving MIT, which he also said he regretted.
Indian-American author Deepak Chopra issued a denial, stating that he was never involved in any criminal or exploitative conduct and that any contact he had was limited and unrelated to abuse.
Author JK Rowling dismissed the claims outright, saying neither she nor anyone on her team had ever met or communicated with Epstein.
Sports executive Casey Wasserman, who heads the Los Angeles Olympics organising committee, said he never had a personal or business relationship with Epstein. He acknowledged being on Epstein’s plane in 2002 as part of a humanitarian delegation linked to the Clinton Foundation and said he regretted any association.
Film director Brett Ratner said he did not have a personal relationship with Epstein and claimed he did not know him, adding that he attended an event at the invitation of his fiancée.
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.
