In the wake of the recent release of the second batch of documents related to the legal proceedings involving millionaire and convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, a viral screenshot from the Epstein files purportedly exposes the sexual preferences of renowned physicist Stephen Hawking. The viral image suggests that Hawking had a preference for observing undressed individuals of short stature attempting to solve equations on chalkboards that were positioned too high. In this article, let’s verify the accuracy of the claim presented in the post.
Claim: Screenshot from the Epstein files disclosing the sexual preferences of renowned physicist Stephen Hawking
Fact: In the Epstein files, there is no reference to Stephen Hawking observing undressed individuals of short stature solving mathematical problems. No reputable news organization has reported any such document detailing these allegations. The circulating screenshot is likely fabricated. Hence, the claim made in the post is FALSE.
Jeffrey Epstein & unsealed documents:
Jeffrey Epstein, an American financier and convicted sex offender, died by suicide in 2019 while awaiting trial on charges related to sex trafficking. A wealthy individual recognized for his connections with celebrities, politicians, billionaires, and prominent figures, Epstein faced initial arrest in 2005 in Palm Beach, Florida, following allegations of paying a 14-year-old girl for sexual activities.
The presently revealed documents form a part of a legal case initiated in 2015 by Virginia Giuffre, one of Epstein’s victims, against Maxwell. A subsequent release of a second set of documents occurred on 03 January 2023. News reports indicate that among the documents, including those yet to be disclosed, are mentions of notable individuals such as Britain’s Prince Andrew, former US Presidents Donald Trump and Bill Clinton, artist Michael Jackson, and renowned theoretical physicist Stephen Hawking. In this context, the viral screenshot claims to depict unsealed documents that disclose Stephen Hawking’s sexual preferences.
No mention of Hawking’s sexual preferences:
In the Epstein files, there is no reference to Stephen Hawking observing undressed individuals of short stature solving mathematical problems. No reputable news organization has reported any such document detailing these allegations.
Nonetheless, the recently unveiled documents include an email exchange between Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell, where Epstein explicitly stated his willingness to financially support individuals capable of undermining the allegations that Hawking participated in an event involving minors. This suggests that the circulating screenshot is likely fabricated.
The viral screenshot could be a meme:
The viral screenshot seems to have originated from a tweet that gained widespread attention. The account responsible for the tweet acknowledged the outlandish nature of the claim in a separate tweet. Additionally, the account, that shared the manipulated photo, is known for posting memes and doctored videos, as explicitly stated in its bio section.
Nevertheless, it is noteworthy to mention that, as per reports, the late physicist visited Epstein’s infamous island in 2006 for a science conference allegedly funded by Epstein.
To sum it up, Epstein’s files did not reveal that Stephen Hawking enjoyed watching undressed midgets.
