Fox News host slammed for Epstein joke made live on air
Warning: This article contains discussion of child abuse which some readers may find distressing.
Fox News host Greg Gutfield is facing backlash online following a controversial joke about Jeffrey Epstein.
The disgraced financier continues to dominate the news following the recent release of over three million pages of the Epstein files, often documenting the horrific sexual abuse that was carried out by the billionaire businessman before his high-profile arrest.
Although Epstein was able to escape justice of his own by committing suicide in his prison cell before he could even be convicted, many are hoping that the evidence in the files, along with the many women who have stepped forward as witnesses, will be used to hold other guilty parties to account, even if mention in the files doesn't necessarily imply wrongdoing.
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While most are in agreement about Epstein's status as an evil child sex offender, as more and more claims about him continue to reach public attention, but American TV host Greg Gutfield suggested that he wasn't all that bothered about the ongoing Epstein hearings, likening them to 'theatre' and a 'hockey fight'.
During Friday night's (13 February) episode of The Five, Gutfield also joked with anchor Jesse Watters about the crimes Epstein was accused of carrying out, as well as facilitating.
Watters suggested that Epstein was 'just a fixer' who gets high-profile people what they need.
He said: “It looks like he’s mostly just a fixer, a guy who advises. He helps people with their problems. Sometimes those problems are, ‘You need a girl?’”
He added that “if you need it, he’s got it.”
Gutfield then responded by suggesting that Epstein was a 'sex rabbi', with the two men then joking that he should perform at next year's Super Bowl half-time show.
The political commentator has long been known for offering satirical takes on current events but he's been slammed for his comments, which also included the use of the term 'drama queens' when discussing the hearings, which feature victims of sexual abuse.
He added: “There’s no moral imperative behind this righteousness, it’s only political, obviously, theatre."
Gutfield's comments about last week's hearings mirror that of US attorney general Pam Bondi, who hit back at the 'theatrics' of Democratic congresswoman Pramila Jayapa.
She had urged Bondi to apologise after a number of Epstein's victims had their right to anonymity violated when their names weren't redacted in the files, while some survivors even reportedly had 'nude images' released, having had their identifies protected 'for decades'.
“Fox are suffering from Trump hypnotic syndrome,” one YouTube commenter said. “It’s horrible what has happened to those girls. Do better Fox.”
Another post on X read: “Because human trafficking and child rape is funny to these two idiots?" This house of cards cannot collapse fast enough.”
LADbible has contacted Fox News for comment.
If you’ve been affected by any of these issues and want to speak to someone in confidence regarding the welfare of a child, contact the NSPCC on 0808 800 5000, 10am-8pm Monday to Friday. If you are a child seeking advice and support, call Childline for free on 0800 1111, 24/7.
Topics: Jeffrey Epstein
James Moorhouse