Gigi Hadid breaks silence on being mentioned in Epstein Files

Gigi Hadid has addressed her appearance in the Epstein files, calling the situation disturbing and saying it left her feeling "sick to my stomach."

The 30-year-old supermodel responded after a fan accused her of staying quiet, leading her to post a detailed reply on Instagram that was later reported by E! News as having been taken down.

Hadid and her younger sister Bella were mentioned in a December 2015 email exchange between Jeffrey Epstein and another person whose identity was redacted in files released by the DOJ. In her response, Gigi made clear she had never met Epstein and said reading his comments about her was deeply upsetting.

The model said she had initially stayed silent because she did not want to distract from the experiences of Epstein's victims. But after seeing the fan's message, she said she felt it was important to make her position plain.

What Gigi Hadid said

The fan wrote, "I had to unfollow u bc u ain't talk bout those files Gigi."

Hadid reportedly replied, "Horrible to read someone you've never met speak about you that way. Especially in this context."

She then explained, "I don't want to take away from the stories of real victims of his; but your comment made me realize maybe its not clear - and it's important to let you know."

Hadid also pushed back on suggestions about how she entered the fashion industry. She wrote that she "grew up privileged" but said her parents "protected me and taught me the value of hard work. The same hard work that got them to this country and gave them careers."

She added, "We applied for and my mom brought me herself to meetings with agencies in NYC just before I turned 18, two of which she was signed to in her career - Marylins and Ford…"

Hadid said she met with 10 agencies, and only a few offered her a contract, including IMG Models. "I signed to IMG in 2012," she wrote. "And I've worked hard every moment since."

The email exchange in the files

According to the material released, the December 2015 exchange began when the redacted individual asked Epstein, "How did the Hadid sisters become models and make so much money?! I don't understand…"

Epstein replied, "You know," and the other person then wrote, "The father paid the agency."

Epstein answered, "No," before later adding, "Because they follow directions, its that simple."

Hadid directly addressed that exchange in her response. She wrote, "To be named in those files, I think I was 20-21 at the time he would have written that email - is disturbing, and I want to state unequivocally that I have never had any affiliation with that disgusting human being."

In a separate comment, she also told the fan, "sending love thanks for your support x."

Her life away from the backlash

Not long after her Instagram response, Hadid was seen out in New York City on Friday in a dark navy shirt, light blue jeans and a tan coat, paired with burgundy loafers and a yellow purse. She wore her blonde hair in a bun with dangly earrings and sunglasses.

The model has also recently been seen with boyfriend Bradley Cooper in NYC. The pair were first linked in 2023, and last year in March Hadid gave rare insight into their relationship during an interview with Vogue, saying they have a "very romantic and happy dynamic."

She added, "To find someone that is in a place in their life where they know what they want and deserve and you both do work separately to come together and be the best partner that you can be. I just feel really lucky."

Hadid also said, "I respect him so much as a creative, and I feel that he gives so much to me: encouragement and, just, belief."

Hadid previously dated Zayn Malik, and the two share daughter Khai, five. Cooper is also dad to daughter Lea, nine, whom he welcomed with ex Irina Shayk.

Featured image credit: Dia Dipasupil / Getty