The Office of His Holiness the Dalai Lama has issued a firm denial following media reports and social media speculation attempting to link the Tibetan spiritual leader to the deceased sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. The clarification comes after the recent release of a massive cache of documents, often referred to as the “Epstein Files,” which contain references to several high-profile global figures.
In an official statement released on February 8, 2026, the Dalai Lama’s office criticized the reports as misleading. “We can unequivocally confirm that His Holiness has never met Jeffrey Epstein or authorized any meeting or interaction with him by anyone on His Holiness’s behalf,” the statement read. The office further emphasized that any attempt to link the spiritual leader to Epstein’s activities is entirely without merit.
The controversy stems from the U.S. Department of Justice’s release of over three million pages of documents related to the Epstein investigation. Reports suggest the name “Dalai Lama” appears approximately 169 times within these files, primarily in emails and third-party correspondence. However, experts and advocacy groups, such as the Tibet Rights Collective, have noted that these mentions often involve third parties discussing potential meetings or academic initiatives that never materialized, rather than personal contact or wrongdoing.
The timing of these allegations has also drawn scrutiny. The “Epstein Files” were released shortly after the Dalai Lama received a Grammy Award for his audiobook Meditations, an event that sparked sharp criticism from Beijing. Tibetan supporters have suggested that the renewed focus on these documents may be part of a broader effort to tarnish the spiritual leader’s reputation during a period of high global visibility.
While the files mention a vast array of politicians, billionaires, and celebrities—including former U.S. President Bill Clinton and Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates—the Dalai Lama’s office maintains that being mentioned in third-party correspondence is not evidence of a relationship. The office continues to focus on the spiritual leader’s upcoming schedule, including long-life prayer ceremonies in Dharamsala later this month.