“I want to state unequivocally that I have never had any affiliation with that disgusting human being,” Gigi wrote in a since-deleted Instagram comment.

Gigi Hadid explains why she and sister Bella appear in the Epstein files

"I want to state unequivocally that I have never had any affiliation with that disgusting human being," Gigi wrote in a since-deleted Instagram comment.

By Marina Watts

Marina Watts

Marina Watts is a news writer for with seven years experience covering entertainment, pop culture and celebrity news. Her previous work appears in PEOPLE, Bustle and Newsweek.

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April 6, 2026 2:12 p.m. ET

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Gigi Hadid and Bella Hadid; Jeffrey Epstein. Credit:

- Gigi Hadid explained why she and sister Bella Hadid were mentioned in the Epstein files in a 2015 email exchange, released in January.

- “To be named in those files, I think I was 20-21 at the time he would have written that email—is disturbing,” the model wrote in a since-deleted Instagram comment. Gigi and Bella Hadid have not been accused of any wrongdoing.

- Epstein died in 2019 while awaiting trial for sex trafficking charges.

Gigi Hadid is speaking out after her and sister Bella Hadid's names showed up in the Epstein files.

Per PEOPLE, in an email transcript released by the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ), the models' names appeared in a 2015 exchange between Jeffrey Epstein and a redacted individual, where they asked Epstein how the sisters were able to “become models and make so much money.”

"You know," Epstein said, to which the unnamed individual appeared to speculate as to whether their father, Mohamed Hadid, “paid the agency.” According to the email files, Epstein denied that claim and further clarified, “Because they follow directions, it’s that simple.”

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Dozens of women came forward accusing Epstein of sexual abuse between 2009 and 2018. Epstein was charged with sex trafficking in July 2019 and died the following month by suicide while awaiting trial.

In January, the DOJ released over three million documents related to Epstein as part of the Epstein Files Transparency Act. President Donald Trump is mentioned thousands of times throughout, along with Woody Allen, Elon Musk, Bill Gates, Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, and dozens of other high-profile individuals. Appearing in the files does not mean that a person has been accused of any wrongdoing.**

Gigi Hadid in New York in October 2025.

TheStewartofNY/FilmMagic

In a since-deleted Instagram comment from a post Gigi shared on March 29, per InStyle, Gigi replied to a fan who said that they "had to unfollow" her because she didn't acknowledge "those files."

“Horrible to read someone you’ve never met speak about you that way. Especially in this context,” she explained in her March 30 comment. “I didn’t comment bc 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.”**

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Gigi acknowledged that she “grew up privileged" but denied any link between her and the disgraced financier, who died in 2019. She also noted that her parents, Mohamed and Yolanda Hadid, “protected me and taught me the value of hard work.”

Gigi, who has been modeling for over a decade, added that she "worked hard every moment since."**

Gigi Hadid in New York in February 2026.

Lexie Moreland/Getty

“To be named in those files, I think I was 20-21 at the time he would have written that email—is disturbing,” she concluded, adding, “and I want to state unequivocally that I have never had any affiliation with that disgusting human being.”

Gigi has not been accused of any wrongdoing.

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