JK Rowling denies Jeffrey Epstein attended ‘Harry Potter’ premiere: “This is beyond silly”
JK Rowling has shut down speculation that Jeffrey Epstein attended the premiere of Harry Potter and the Cursed Child in 2018.
On January 30th, three million files were released by the Department of Justice in relation to the investigation into the paedophile Epstein, as well his connections to the rich and powerful.
Among the many files released by the DoJ is an invitation to the Broadway premiere of Harry Potter and the Cursed Child on April 22nd, 2018.
One X user accused Rowling of “sending invitations to Epstein 10 years after he was convicted” for child sex trafficking offences. In response, the best-selling author wrote, “This is beyond silly. Neither I, nor anybody on my team, ever met, communicated with or invited Jeffrey Epstein to anything.”
The tickets were not sent out by Rowling. Instead, the files show that Epstein’s close associate Peggy Siegal had reached out to Playground Entertainment’s Colin Callendar to secure them for a “very important friend” who wanted to “come see the spectacle.”
Callendar has since confirmed to Deadline that he was not aware the tickets were intended for Epstein.
As a result of his name not being on the tickets, Epstein was not allowed into the Broadway premiere of Harry Potter and the Cursed Child.
In the newly-released files, Epstein sent an email to Siegal to inform her that he “could’t get in”, before adding, “No biggy but thought you should know.”
Per Deadline, Siegal said in correspondence with Playground Entertainment that the refusal to admit Epstein was “terribly upsetting” and she was “incredibly embarrassed” with the episode.
While she demanded an “apology note”, Callendar insists that Playground Entertainment didn’t offer one.
Never Miss A Scene
The Far Out Film Newsletter
All the latest film news from the independent voice of culture.
Straight to your inbox.