Professor Stephen Hawking seen with two women in bikinis in new Epstein files photo. A recently released tranche of court documents connected to the investigation of convicted financier Jeffrey Epstein includes a previously unseen photograph of the late British physicist Professor Stephen Hawking pictured between two women wearing bikinis. The image was made public by the U.S. Department of Justice as part of the ongoing unsealing of millions of pages of material linked to Epstein and his social circle.
In the photograph, Hawking — who died in 2018 at the age of 76 — is seen reclining on a sun-soaked tropical setting, flanked by the two women holding what appear to be chilled cocktails. The identities of the women have been redacted, and it remains unclear exactly when or where the image was taken. Many observers believe it may have been captured on Little Saint James, Epstein’s private island in the U.S. Virgin Islands.
Context of Hawking’s Appearance in the Files
Hawking’s name appears numerous times — at least 250 references — throughout the newly released documents, mostly in correspondence and scheduling records. There is broad agreement among news organisations that these mentions reflect his attendance at academic events rather than any illegal contact or inappropriate behaviour. The most significant documented connection occurred in March 2006, when Hawking travelled to the Caribbean to attend a scientific conference titled “The Energy of Empty Space That Isn’t Zero”. The event was funded by Epstein and held partly on St. Thomas, close to Epstein’s private island, with a group of around 21 well-known physicists and researchers in attendance. During that trip, Epstein reportedly hosted social gatherings that included a beach barbecue and a specially modified submarine tour so Hawking, who lived with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and needed assistive technology to communicate, could explore the local seabed.
What the New Photo Does — and Does Not — Indicate
While the image showing Hawking with the two women in bikinis has attracted public — even viral — interest, legal and historical context emphasises that being photographed or mentioned in the Epstein files does not equate to misconduct. Court documents, as well as journalists familiar with the records, specifically note that there is no evidence linking Hawking to criminal activity or to any abuse associated with Epstein’s wrongdoing. The photo is one among thousands of documents and images released by the Department of Justice, which has been under pressure to make Epstein-related materials public following a civil lawsuit and years of courtroom battles. Researchers and commentators stress that many such files include social interactions, meeting schedules, travel documents, and guest lists from events where Epstein sought connections with powerful or prominent individuals.
Unverified Allegations and Ongoing Public Interest
Some of the documents also include unverified claims by Virginia Giuffre, one of Epstein’s most prominent accusers, which allege that Hawking participated in an underage orgy at Epstein’s island. These claims appear in email text in the files but have never been corroborated by independent evidence and were rejected at the time by the relevant parties. The existence of such allegations in raw communications is not proof of wrongdoing. In line with standard legal practice, inclusion in an investigation file means that a person’s name or image appeared in materials related to the case — not that they are suspected of a crime. This is an important distinction that authorities and news organisations emphasise when reporting on the latest release of the Epstein records.
Legacy and Reaction
Stephen Hawking is widely regarded as one of the most influential theoretical physicists of the late 20th and early 21st centuries, known for his work in cosmology, black holes, and the nature of spacetime. Although the new photo has drawn attention online, scientific colleagues and historians have reminded the public that his presence at social or academic events linked to Epstein should be viewed separately from Epstein’s criminal conduct. As more of the Epstein files continue to be released and analysed, public discussion is likely to evolve, but experts caution against drawing conclusions about individuals based solely on their inclusion in these complex and sprawling records.
