Edinburgh author JK Rowling has hit back on social media after her name appeared in newly released Epstein Files.
The Harry Potter author said it was “beyond silly” that she ever had dealings with the disgraced American financier.
Jeffrey Epstein has been at the heart of a growing controversy after millions of files were made public by the U.S. Department of Justice on January 30. Three million pages, 180,000 images and 2,000 videos involving the sex offender were posted publicly on Friday, with prominent names such as Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor making international headlines.
JK Rowling’s name also appeared in emails sent to Epstein by an unknown individual, whose name was redacted, where the sender asked Epstein to introduce them to Rowling.
There is no indication Epstein and Rowling knew each other. The documents contain thousands of names, many of whom find themselves dragged into the affair despite no evidence they had ever met Epstein, according to the Daily Record.
On May 5, 2016 the sender wrote to Epstein: “when are you arriving in Cannes? i miss you and want to see you! I am in London and flying back to the Riviera this week-end.”
Two days later they wrote: “Jeffrey, as you always know the top people in every fiels [sic], maybe you could help me: i want to meet JK Rowling. Could you help me?
“And I remember you used to know Julie Taymor, the lady who directed the lion king. . . maybe this fantastic lady (i admire her tremendously) would be a wonderful person to advise me to understand better the world of Broadway and London west end. Let me know if there is a chance i can get in touch with her.
“Thanks my darling, I look forward to seeing you, let me know when you will be in Cannes or London, Love you”.
A user on X posted shared a video with the caption “jk rowling sending invitations to epstein 10 years after he was convicted” [sic].
The author shot back: “”This is beyond silly. Neither I, nor anybody on my team, ever met, communicated with or invited Jeffrey Epstein to anything.”
A disclaimer on the X post stated “readers added context” that “A comprehensive search of US DoJ files finds no communications between Rowling and Epstein – only a wish of his to meet her written to a third party.”