Another day, another high-profile public figure attempting to distance themselves from…this guy.
The continued release of files related to late disgraced fiancier Jeffrey Epstein — who died in prison back in 2019 after facing sex trafficking charges — is one of the biggest, most upsetting, and absolutely infuriating stories right now in world media.
Millions of files were released late last week, and they pretty much touch every single corner of power and influence in existence. Newly minted CBS News contributor Peter Attia (who was also connected to those David protein bars you’ve been seeing everywhere) was mentioned over 1700 times in the doc dump, and is now at risk of losing his new gig despite a lengthy apology.
Another person who pops up in the Epstein files: director Brett Ratner, who you might recognize from his involvement in the Rush Hour franchise, the allegations of sexual misconduct he faced in 2017, or his don’t-call-it-a-comeback-seriously-please-don’t directorial gesture that is Melania, the currently-in-theaters documentary about — who else? — First Lady Melania Trump.
If you’ve been on social media in the last 24 hours, you’ve probably seen a photo from the files of Brett with his arms around what seems like a woman with her face redacted — right next to Jeffrey Epstein himself, who also seemingly has a woman with her face redacted leaning up against his chest. If you haven’t seen it, it’s right here.
In a recent interview with Fox News (via Variety) Brett addressed appearing in the photo — the existence of which, it must be said, indicates no suggestion of wrongdoing from the director. “About 20 years ago, I had a girlfriend, I was in love with her, we were engaged, she was my fiancé, we went to an event and we were sitting on the couch and the photo was taken at that event,” he said.
“I didn’t have a personal relationship with him, I didn’t know him. And that’s where the picture was taken. I didn’t even remember. Because I’d been asked in the past ‘Do you know him?’ and I’m like, ‘I don’t think so’ because I didn’t have a personal relationship with him.”
Brett also said that his then-fiancé “invited” him to the event where the picture with Jeffrey Epstein was taken. “At the time, the girl in the picture is my fiancé. And that’s it. You get thrown into these things, it’s crazy, it’s horrible.”
There you have it, I guess.