JK Rowling recently spoke out against rumors that started after the US Department of Justice released a large number of files related to Jeffrey Epstein. The author denied claims that she invited the convicted sex offender to a Harry Potter premiere. She took to social media to clear up the confusion right away.
“This is beyond silly,” Rowling said on X. “Neither I, nor anybody on my team, ever met, communicated with or invited Jeffrey Epstein to anything.” The documents actually tell a very different story about how Epstein tried to get into her world without any direct invitation.
According to The Independent, the confusion began when millions of documents were released by the US Department of Justice. These files linked Epstein to several well-known people, including Prince Andrew, Bill Gates, and President Trump. The documents also showed how Epstein tried to get into the Broadway opening of Harry Potter and the Cursed Child in April 2018.
Epstein’s team tried to get tickets through a backdoor approach
The documents show that Epstein’s publicist, Peggy Siegal, contacted the production company handling the stage show. She did not ask for Epstein directly. Instead, she said an anonymous “very important friend” needed tickets to “come see the spectacle.”
Colin Callender, the head of Playground Entertainment, the theater production company, agreed to arrange entry for this unnamed friend. However, Callender says he had no idea who the VIP actually was. This detail is important because it shows the attempt to gain access was indirect and not based on any real invitation from Rowling or her team.
Despite these efforts, Epstein never got inside. The documents confirm that Epstein was never on the official guest list. He was turned away at the door because he had been sent incorrect tickets for the event. Rowling has faced controversy in recent years, with some fans believing she targeted the Harry Potter cast over their public disagreements with her.
The next morning, Epstein sent an email to Siegal about not getting in. “Couldn’t get in. No biggy but thought you should know,” he wrote. Siegal was upset about the “terribly upsetting” situation. She contacted Playground Entertainment and asked for an apology for the problem. Callender said they never gave her one.
The release of these emails in the documents led people to wrongly assume that Rowling or her organization had invited Epstein to the premiere. It appears people saw the email exchange and jumped to the wrong conclusion without reading the full context.The author has been no stranger to public disputes, including accusations about her views on transgender people. Rowling has now made it completely clear that she had nothing to do with any attempt to invite Epstein to the event.
Published: Feb 5, 2026 11:25 am