Skateboarding Icon Tony Hawk Refutes Rumors About Epstein Island Wedding

Professional skateboarding legend Tony Hawk has firmly denied online rumors claiming he was married on Jeffrey Epstein’s private island, dismissing the allegations as “misinformation” in a pointed social media statement.

“Here are the facts and timelines of my nuptials, and I apologize if they don’t fit a narrative of nonsense,” Hawk wrote in an Instagram story posted Thursday, addressing the false claims that had begun circulating online.

The 56-year-old pioneer of modern skateboarding, who has been married four times, provided specific details about each of his wedding ceremonies. According to Hawk, the celebrations took place at his home in Fallbrook, California; the Hilton Hotel in San Diego; Tavarua Surf Island in Fiji; and at Adare Manor in Ireland. None occurred at Little Saint James, the notorious private estate owned by convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein in the U.S. Virgin Islands.

The unfounded rumors appear to have originated from documents released under the Epstein Files Transparency Act, which the Department of Justice made public as part of ongoing investigations into Epstein’s extensive sex trafficking network. Among these documents was an email dated October 22, 2024, written by an FBI special agent investigating a case involving a minor allegedly being trafficked.

In the email, the agent reported that a victim claimed “she was taken from Ireland and brought to Jeffrey Epstein Island when she was 13 years old,” and that “she was there when Prince Edward was there and when Tony Hawk got married on the island.”

The skateboarding icon, who has built a multimillion-dollar empire through his video games, skateboarding company, and various business ventures, emphatically stated that he never met Epstein and has never visited the financier’s private island.

Adding to the confusion was a coincidental connection that likely fueled the misinformation. One of the guests who attended Hawk’s 2006 wedding in Fiji was a photographer named Mark Epstein, who shares the same surname as Jeffrey Epstein’s younger brother. This Mark Epstein, Hawk clarified, is “an accomplished action sports photographer from Wyoming” with no relation to the convicted sex offender.

The photographer Epstein actually captured images of Hawk’s wedding to Lhotse Merriam in Fiji, with these professional photographs later appearing in various publications. The couple divorced in 2011.

“This is all easily verifiable information,” Hawk emphasized in his statement. “Facts are not fungible.”

The confusion surrounding Hawk is part of a broader pattern following the release of the Epstein documents, where numerous celebrities and public figures have found themselves incorrectly associated with Epstein’s crimes. The Department of Justice’s release of these files has sparked widespread public interest, but has also led to misinterpretations and false connections being spread across social media.

Hawk, who revolutionized the sport of skateboarding and became a household name through his video game franchise and numerous competition victories, has generally maintained a positive public image throughout his decades-long career. He remains active in the skateboarding community and regularly participates in charitable work through the Tony Hawk Foundation, which helps build skate parks in underserved communities.

The unfounded rumors come at a time when public scrutiny surrounding Epstein’s former associates has intensified, with legitimate investigations continuing into those who may have been complicit in or had knowledge of his crimes. Epstein, who died in jail in 2019 while awaiting trial on sex trafficking charges, maintained connections with numerous high-profile figures from business, politics, and entertainment.

Hawk’s clear and detailed refutation serves as a reminder of how easily misinformation can spread in the digital age, particularly regarding sensitive topics that generate significant public interest.