Hollywood director Brett Ratner found himself in the spotlight again this week after a photograph surfaced showing him alongside Jeffrey Epstein and an unidentified woman.
The image, released as part of newly obtained Department of Justice documents, sparked questions about Ratner’s connection to the late financier.
During a Monday interview with Piers Morgan, Ratner clarified the situation, emphasizing that he only met Epstein once and that the photograph has been misinterpreted.
The Mystery Woman and the Fiancée Reveal
In the now-famous photo, Ratner is pictured with his arms around a woman whose face is blurred, while another blurred-out woman hugs Epstein.
Ratner declined to reveal her identity, only describing her as his “fiancée” at the time.
He explained, “That picture was taken about 19 to 21 years ago.
It’s of my fiancée, who invited me to the event, and that’s where the photo comes from. I had never met Jeffrey Epstein before that, and I never had contact with him afterward.”
A spokesperson for Ratner echoed this, telling the Daily Mail, “Those photos are from over 20 years ago, from an event he attended with his then-fiancée.
He did not know Jeffrey Epstein and does not recall any subsequent contact with him.”
Ratner’s Relationship History
Brett Ratner, known for directing the Rush Hour series and one of the X-Men films, has had a high-profile romantic history, including relationships with actresses Rebecca Gayheart and Maggie Q, as well as tennis star Serena Williams.
However, none of these relationships coincide with the time period of the photograph.
“She doesn’t want me sharing her name,” Ratner explained of the mystery woman.
“But that was my fiancée—100 percent. I was engaged to her when that photo was taken, over 20 years ago.”
Ratner’s only public engagement was with Gayheart, which ended in 1999, and his relationship with Serena Williams lasted from 2004 to 2006.
More Controversial Images in Epstein Files
The newly released files also included another image of Ratner hugging Jean-Luc Brunel, a French modeling agent and longtime associate of Epstein.
Brunel was found hanged in a Paris jail cell in 2022 while awaiting trial for sexual assault of minors.
In both photographs, Ratner is casually dressed in a white button-down shirt and jeans.
Ratner’s Hollywood Career and #MeToo Fallout
Ratner enjoyed a mainstream Hollywood career until 2017, when multiple women accused him of sexual misconduct during the height of the #MeToo movement.
Since then, his presence in the industry has been minimal.
His connection to the Trump world began after the 2024 election, when Melania Trump’s adviser, Marc Beckman, contacted him to arrange a meeting with the former first lady.
“He didn’t really want to reveal too much at first, but then he said she’d like me to do a documentary,” Ratner recalled.
At that point, he had never directed a documentary before.
Directing the Melania Documentary
Despite the surprise, Ratner signed on and filmed the Melania documentary over 20 days leading up to the 2025 inauguration.
He attended the premiere at the newly renamed Trump-Kennedy Center and was also seen at Mar-a-Lago’s New Year’s Eve party.
The documentary has already made a splash, earning $7 million in ticket sales during its opening weekend in the U.S. and Canada, making it the highest-grossing theatrical documentary outside of concert films since 2012.
Epstein Files and Political Fallout
Meanwhile, President Donald Trump continues to face scrutiny over the Epstein files, including false claims that he ever visited Epstein’s private island.
Epstein’s name remains politically sensitive for the former president, especially after his return to office in January.
As for Ratner, he continues to emphasize that his association with Epstein was a single, isolated encounter from over two decades ago.
