Is jimmy kimmel mentioned in any epstein files

Checked on February 3, 2026
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Executive summary

Multiple reputable fact‑checks and news outlets conclude that Jimmy Kimmel’s name does not appear in the unsealed Jeffrey Epstein-related court documents released in early January 2024, and widely shared images purporting to show him in those files have been identified as fabrications [1] [2] [3] [4] [5] [6].

1. The claim and where it started

The allegation that Jimmy Kimmel was named in newly unsealed Epstein documents surfaced publicly after broadcaster Aaron Rodgers speculated on a podcast that “a lot of people including Jimmy Kimmel are hoping it doesn't come out,” a comment that drew attention and prompted viral social‑media posts showing an apparent excerpt that implicated Kimmel [3] [6].

2. What the unsealed documents actually contain

A judge ordered the release of hundreds of pages tied to litigation involving Virginia Giuffre and others, and those documents have been published and searchable online; multiple searches of the official released set show no mention of Jimmy Kimmel’s name in the materials that were made public in January 2024 [1] [2] [5].

3. Independent fact‑checks and forensic reporting

Reuters, FactCheck.org, USA Today, Forbes and Newsweek all examined the released materials and the viral images and concluded there is no evidence that Kimmel is named in the documents; Forbes and others specifically identified the circulating screenshot as fabricated and noted that the full document set does not include Kimmel [1] [2] [3] [4] [5].

4. Kimmel’s public denial and the immediate fallout

Kimmel publicly denied any contact with Epstein, saying he had not met, flown with, visited, or had any contact with Epstein and warned that false claims endangered his family; he also threatened legal action after Rodgers’ public suggestion [1] [2] [6]. Reporting confirms that the widely circulated image that allegedly showed a transcript naming Kimmel was created and shared on social platforms despite not matching the official files [3] [4].

5. Why the story spread and what motives were visible

The claim amplified quickly because it combined a high‑profile public figure (Kimmel), sensational subject matter (Epstein), a provocative public comment (Rodgers’ podcast remark) and an easily shareable fabricated image; fact‑checkers pointed to social‑media virality and partisan incentives to drive attention rather than to any new documentary evidence in the court filings [3] [4]. Later political and media commentary about “the Epstein files” — including Kimmel’s own monologues lampooning how and whether the files would be released — kept the topic in public view, which likely aided further circulation of false screenshots and rumors [7] [8] [9] [10].

6. The bottom line and limits of available reporting

Based on the public record and multiple independent fact‑checks, there is no evidence in the unsealed Epstein‑related court documents released in January 2024 that Jimmy Kimmel is mentioned, and the viral images purporting otherwise have been judged fabricated [1] [2] [3] [4] [5]. This assessment is limited to the documents that were publicly released and examined by newsrooms and fact‑checkers cited here; if other materials exist outside those released files, those are not part of the evidence reviewed by the sources provided [1] [2].

Want to dive deeper?
Which names were actually released in the January 2024 unsealed Epstein court documents and where can they be read?
How did Aaron Rodgers’ comments about the Epstein files originate and what were the consequences?
What methods do fact‑checkers use to verify or debunk allegedly leaked court documents and doctored screenshots?