Entertainment
Jimmy Kimmel condemns suggestions he’s on Epstein list and claims his ‘family is in danger’-Ruth Lawes-Entertainment – Metro
The TV star branded him a ‘soft-brained wacko.’
Jimmy Kimmel called the accusation ‘clearly phoney nonsense’ (Picture: Jimmy Kimmel Live)
Jimmy Kimmel has threatened NFL star Aaron Rodgers with legal action after he suggested he was on Jeffrey Epstein’s list.
The late-night US host, 56, said the sports player’s ‘reckless words’ had put his ‘family in danger’ after he implied Kimmel would be revealed as one of the late sex offender’s associates.
On X, Kimmel fumed: ‘Dear Aasshole: for the record, I’ve not met, flown with, visited, or had any contact whatsoever with Epstein, nor will you find my name on any “list” other than the clearly phony nonsense that soft-brained wackos like yourself can’t seem to distinguish from reality.
‘Your reckless words put my family in danger. Keep it up and we will debate the facts further in court. @AaronRodgers12.’
The New York Jets quarterback, 40, had made the sensationalist accusation on ESPN’s The Pat McAfee Show during which they discussed the imminent unsealing of court documents with the names of Epstein’s high-profile recruiters and friends.
‘There’s a lot of people, including Jimmy Kimmel, who are hoping that list doesn’t come out,’ Rodgers had remarked.
Rodgers made the sensationalist claim while on a TV show (Picture: Elsa/Getty Images)
In December, a judge ordered court documents with the names of 177 Does relating to Epstein, among them associates and victims, to be unsealed.
Among the Does are apparently a Prince Andrew accuser who claims he fondled her chest in Epstein’s New York mansion, as well as documents on his alleged recruiter and victim Haley Robson and French model Jean-Luc Brunel who was accused of abusing young women.
Buckingham Palace previously said the allegations about Andrew were ‘categorically untrue.’
The documents are part of a 2015 US defamation case by Virginia Giuffre against Ghislaine Maxwell, the British socialite who supplied Epstein with underage girls.
Writing on X, formerly known as Twitter, Giuffre said: ‘Finally we are hearing members of the US government senators about the need for transparency and a call to arms for accountability!!
‘There’s going to be a lot of nervous ppl over Christmas and New Years, 170 to be exact, who’s on the naughty list?
Epstein died by suicide while awaiting trial on sex trafficking charges (Picture: AP)
‘This (would not) be possible without the Honourable Judge Preska.’
Giuffre settled her civil claim against Maxwell, but representatives of the media successfully argued documents that were sealed as part of the case should be made public.
Epstein was found dead in his cell at a federal jail in Manhattan in August 2019 while he awaited trial on sex trafficking charges.
Maxwell has been imprisoned since July 2020 (Picture: SDNY/ZUMA Press Wire/REX)
The death was ruled a suicide.
Maxwell has been imprisoned since July 2020, despite numerous attempts from her defence counsel to have her released on bail.
She was sentenced to 20 years in prison at the federal court in the Southern District of New York in June last year.
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The socialite indicated her desire to appeal shortly after her conviction, with her lawyers claiming victims had ‘faded, distorted and motivated memories.’
Her appeal is currently scheduled to be heard in November next year.
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