Melinda Gates is once again in the public eye, responding to new documents from the Epstein case that allege shocking details involving her ex-husband, Bill Gates.
The 61-year-old philanthropist, who finalized her divorce from Gates in 2021, spoke candidly about the situation during a recent episode of NPR’s Wild Card podcast.
“I feel deeply for the victims,” she said, reflecting on the girls allegedly abused by Jeffrey Epstein.
“No girl should ever be put in the situation that they were put in. It’s beyond heartbreaking.”
Personal Pain Amid Public Scandal
For Melinda, the revelations struck a personal chord.
“I remember being the same ages as those girls, I remember my daughters being those ages,” she said.
“So, for me, it’s hard whenever these details come up because it brings back memories of painful times in my marriage.”
While she acknowledged the emotional weight of the claims, Melinda was clear about her boundaries. “I purposely pushed it away and moved on.
I’m in a reall
nexpected, beautiful place in my life.
Whatever questions remain, those are for the people involved, including my ex-husband, to answer—not me.”
Distance From Bill Gates and the Allegations
Melinda also emphasized her relief at being removed from the mess.
“I am so happy to be away from all the muck,” she told podcast host Rachel Martin.
When asked about her feelings toward the details surrounding Gates’s alleged actions, she replied simply: “Sad.
Just unbelievable sadness. Unbelievable sadness.”
Her comments come on the heels of a fresh trove of Epstein files, which included emails and other documents alleging Gates asked his then-advisor Boris Nikolic to help him secretly provide Melinda with antibiotics to treat a sexually transmitted disease he reportedly contracted from Russian women.
The Content of the Emails
Among the newly released documents was a draft email from Nikolic expressing frustration over being implicated in Gates’s alleged private dealings.
The email reportedly referenced Gates requesting help with sensitive matters, including his sexual encounters and associated consequences.
Another email reportedly contained claims of Epstein’s own dismay at Gates ending their friendship, further painting a picture of the tangled relationships between Gates, Epstein, and those around them.
Bill Gates Denies Wrongdoing
Bill Gates responded to the latest claims in a statement to the Daily Mail, calling them “absolutely absurd and completely false.”
He insisted that the documents reflect Epstein’s frustration that Gates did not maintain a close relationship with him, and said they were attempts to entrap and defame him.
Throughout the years, Gates has repeatedly downplayed his relationship with Epstein, claiming that they had no true business or personal friendship and that all interactions were in group settings.
He also denied ever attending Epstein’s parties or visiting his residences.
Divorce Rooted in Alleged Affairs and Epstein Ties
Melinda and Bill Gates were married for nearly three decades, from 1994 to 2021.
Melinda cited Gates’s alleged affairs and his friendship with Epstein as reasons for their divorce.
Reports indicate that Melinda began planning her legal separation in 2019 after concerns about Gates’s repeated meetings with Epstein and other alleged dealings with the financier.
The new release of documents only reinforces the complex, public nature of the Gates-Epstein story, with Melinda standing firm in her resolve to move forward while expressing compassion for the victims involved.
Moving Forward With Clarity and Distance
Despite the swirling allegations and renewed public scrutiny, Melinda maintains a sense of personal closure.
“I am in a really unexpected, beautiful place in my life,” she said.
“The questions for the past are for those people, not me. I’ve chosen to leave that behind.”
Her words highlight the delicate balance of addressing past scandals while maintaining personal peace—and the enduring impact of one of the most notorious figures in recent history.
