Longevity lies: What was Dr. Attia’s relationship with Epstein?

In the shadowy underbelly of elite networks, Dr. Attia—a celebrated longevity expert whose insights have captivated millions through podcasts and bestsellers—finds himself ensnared in scandal. Newly unsealed Epstein files reveal over 1,700 emails exchanged with the late financier, painting a picture of frequent meetings and intimate banter from 2014 to 2019. While Dr. Attia vehemently denies any wrongdoing or awareness of Epstein’s crimes, apologizing for the “crude and tasteless” content, questions linger: Just how deep did their connection run, and what shadows does it cast on his pristine public persona?

The email trail

Dr. Attia first crossed paths with Jeffrey Epstein around 2014, amid the financier’s web of elite connections. Their exchanges escalated into over 1,700 emails, spanning lighthearted banter to more personal missives. Some messages hinted at a budding friendship, with Attia reportedly joining Epstein for dinners and discussions, though he insists these were purely professional and innocent of any illicit undertones.

As the files surfaced, Dr. Attia swiftly issued a public apology, expressing deep shame over the emails’ crude humor and tasteless references. He emphasized that his seven or eight meetings with Epstein between 2014 and 2019 never involved witnessing or participating in criminal acts. Still, the revelations have prompted scrutiny of how such associations aligned with his role as a trusted health authority.

The fallout has been immediate: CBS News, where Dr. Attia was recently appointed a contributor, is reportedly poised to sever ties following his 60 Minutes appearance. Additionally, his name vanished from the David Protein website, where he served as chief science officer, underscoring the swift professional repercussions of these unsealed ties.

Inside the emails

Dr. Attia’s correspondence with Epstein, unearthed from a massive 3 million-email trove where his name pops up over 1,700 times, reveals a chummy rapport laced with crude humor. One 2015 missive sees Dr. Attia lamenting the secrecy of Epstein’s outrageous life, while another from 2016 cracks a tasteless joke about women’s bodies being “low carb.” These exchanges, spanning years, hint at a budding friendship built on banter and shared elite circles.

Beyond quips, the emails touch on health chats, with Epstein offering payment for Dr. Attia’s advice on longevity matters, though he wasn’t formally Epstein’s physician. Plans for visits surfaced too—like a thwarted trip to Epstein’s New Mexico ranch in 2015 and a casual nod to his infamous island, which Dr. Attia insists he never set foot on, emphasizing all interactions stayed above board.

In his apology, Dr. Attia labeled the emails indefensible and humiliating, stressing no link to Epstein’s abuses and expressing regret for not cutting ties sooner. The scandal’s ripple: CBS yanked a “60 Minutes” rerun featuring him, just weeks after his contributor gig under Bari Weiss, while he voluntarily stepped back from roles at AG1 and David Protein amid the uproar.

A tangled association

Dr. Attia’s ties to Epstein unfolded over seven or eight meetings from 2014 to 2019, amid the financier’s notorious elite circles. While denying any criminal involvement or knowledge of abuses, Dr. Attia described their interactions as unrelated to sexual misconduct, focusing instead on casual discussions that veered into personal territory, leaving him “ashamed” by the revelations.

Emails released by the U.S. Justice Department from a 3 million-strong trove show expressions of closeness, with Dr. Attia joking about missing Epstein in one message. These exchanges, blending health advice and crude banter, highlight a rapport that Dr. Attia now regrets, insisting he never participated in or witnessed illegal acts during their encounters.

As scrutiny mounts, CBS News has yet to comment formally on parting ways with Dr. Attia, just a week into his contributor role under Bari Weiss. Meanwhile, Epstein’s own dark history—pleading guilty in 2008 to soliciting a minor before his 2019 suicide amid sex trafficking charges—casts a long shadow over such associations.

Career in crisis

Dr. Attia, once a rising star in longevity circles, now faces severe professional blowback from his Epstein ties. Just a week after being named a CBS contributor in a network overhaul spearheaded by editor-in-chief Bari Weiss, reports indicate CBS is set to drop him entirely. This follows his recent 60 Minutes spot, amplifying the scandal’s reach amid public outcry.

The repercussions extend to Dr. Attia’s corporate roles, with his swift removal from the David Protein website as chief science officer shortly after the email trove’s release. He has since stepped back voluntarily from other positions, like at AG1, underscoring how these revelations have unraveled his carefully built empire in health and wellness advocacy.

In Epstein’s vast web of elite acquaintances, Dr. Attia emerged as one of many high-profile figures drawn into questionable orbits. While the doctor maintains his interactions were benign and regrets not distancing sooner, the association highlights the perils of such networks, especially given Epstein’s 2008 guilty plea and 2019 demise amid trafficking charges.

Regrets and repercussions

Dr. Attia has publicly expressed profound shame over the emails, describing them as indefensible and humiliating, particularly for their crude remarks about women and tasteless jokes. He insists his relationship with Epstein was limited to casual discussions on health and longevity, with no awareness or involvement in the financier’s criminal activities, though the association has undeniably tarnished his reputation as a trusted expert.

The backlash has been swift and severe, with critics in the medical community questioning how a physician could maintain such ties without greater scrutiny. One doctor noted that professionals should prioritize their ethical oaths over proximity to power, highlighting the broader ethical dilemmas exposed by Epstein’s elite network and its lingering impact on public figures like Dr. Attia.

As the scandal unfolds, Dr. Attia’s future in media and wellness hangs in the balance, with calls for accountability echoing across social platforms. While he has stepped back from key roles, the revelations serve as a cautionary tale about the perils of unchecked associations, prompting deeper reflection on integrity within the burgeoning longevity field.

Medical missteps

Dr. Attia clarified that he never served as Epstein’s formal physician, yet newly released files suggest otherwise, with Epstein’s calendar noting blood draws and follow-ups over years. Their meetings at the Manhattan townhouse blended health queries with casual chats, where Dr. Attia answered general questions and recommended specialists, all while denying any deeper medical role.

One 2015 email exchange saw Dr. Attia referencing a fresh shipment of metformin for anti-aging, met by Epstein’s reply with a redacted photo of an adult woman. Dr. Attia later deemed it juvenile banter, not sinister, but admitted the outrageous secrecy of Epstein’s life left him awestruck and unable to share details with others.

In his detailed apology posted on X, Dr. Attia reflected on personal growth, stating the man he is today would shun such ties entirely. He emphasized no involvement in crimes, yet the revelations underscore ethical lapses in mingling medical advice with elite, unchecked associations that now jeopardize his longevity legacy.