Gigi Hadid Responds to Mention in Jeffrey Epstein-Related DOJ Files

Gigi Hadid addressed her name appearing in documents released by the U.S. Department of Justice concerning Jeffrey Epstein, calling the inclusion “disturbing.” The files, made public in late 2023 and widely covered in early 2024, contained a redacted email exchange from December 2015 in which an unnamed individual referenced the Hadid sisters in correspondence with Epstein. The message questioned how the sisters achieved professional success and wealth, to which Epstein responded with a brief, ambiguous reply. Hadid stated that while she grew up in a privileged environment, her parents instilled in her a strong work ethic, and she has maintained a career in modeling through sustained professional effort since signing with an agency in 2012. In a March 2024 Instagram post, she explained that she initially chose not to comment publicly to avoid overshadowing the experiences of Epstein’s victims, but felt compelled to respond after online commentary questioned her silence. She reiterated that she has never had any affiliation with Epstein and expressed discomfort at being referenced in material connected to his criminal conduct. Epstein, a convicted sex offender who died by suicide in federal custody in August 2019, had previously entered into a controversial plea agreement in Florida related to charges involving a minor. The DOJ has not alleged wrongdoing by Hadid in releasing or commenting on the documents. Hadid’s statement underscores the broader impact of the released files on individuals named within them, many of whom have spoken publicly to assert their lack of involvement with Epstein’s illegal activities. The documents continue to be the subject of legal review and public scrutiny, though no new criminal charges have been filed as a result of their release.