Dalai Lama Firmly Denies Any Meeting With Jeffrey Epstein
The Dalai Lama has categorically denied ever meeting the convicted paedophile financier Jeffrey Epstein, following the release of millions of new documents that mention the Tibetan spiritual leader dozens of times. The office for the head of Tibetan Buddhism released a formal statement on Sunday addressing what it called "social media posts...attempting to link His Holiness the Dalai Lama with Jeffrey Epstein." This response comes as the latest tranche of Epstein files, adding more than three million pages to the public record, has drawn intense scrutiny to Epstein's extensive networks and his efforts to connect with influential figures worldwide.
Epstein's Attempted Dinner Plans Revealed in Correspondence
Among the newly released documents are emails from 2015 that reveal Epstein actively attempting to arrange a meeting with Tenzin Gyatso, the 14th Dalai Lama. In one exchange, Epstein told associates of his plans to meet the Buddhist leader, with one email asking if a dinner was "fixed." Epstein's brief reply simply stated: "Talk Tomorw" [sic]. Further correspondence suggests Epstein was trying to organise a dinner that would include not only the Dalai Lama but also public intellectuals like Noam Chomsky and filmmaker Woody Allen in May 2015.
On 10 May 2015, Epstein wrote that a "fun dinner would be dali lama [sic]. woody allen chomsky?", adding enthusiastically: "lets do it." Joi Ito, responding to these plans, implied that Epstein had not yet met the exiled leader, writing: "Yes. First step would be to meet Tenzin" and suggesting an unnamed student could "get us the Dalai Lama." The following day, Epstein emailed a contact saved as Soon Yi Previn, stating: "im working on the dalai lama for dinner." Four days later, he received an email from Lawrence Krauss asking: "is dinner with woody and dali lama [sic] on may 19th fixed?"
Official Denial and Context of the Dalai Lama's Position
The Dalai Lama, now 90 years old, is not accused of any wrongdoing in connection with Epstein. His office's statement was unequivocal: "We can unequivocally confirm that His Holiness has never met Jeffrey Epstein or authorised any meeting or interaction with him by anyone on His Holiness's behalf." The spiritual leader has lived in exile since 1959, when he fled to northern India following unrest over the Chinese occupation of Tibet. Although he officially gave up political duties in 2011 to the Tibetan government in exile, he remains the foremost religious leader of the Tibetan community and diaspora worldwide.
This is not the first time the Dalai Lama has faced controversy in recent years. In 2023, he was caught in a storm of criticism after asking a child to suck his tongue during an event at his temple in Dharamashala. Widely shared footage showed the Dalai Lama asking a young boy to kiss him on his cheek and then his lips after the child requested a hug. The spiritual leader pressed his forehead to the child's before sticking out his tongue and saying "and suck my tongue." The incident drew condemnation from human rights activists, though Penpa Tsering, head of Tibet's government in exile, defended the Dalai Lama's actions as "innocent" and demonstrative of his "affectionate behaviour."
The office of the Dalai Lama later apologised "for the hurt his words may have caused," explaining that "his Holiness often teases people he meets in an innocent and playful way, even in public and before cameras," while adding: "he regrets the incident." The release of the Epstein files continues to generate significant public interest and media attention, with the US government facing ongoing pressure to disclose all documents related to Epstein's case. Jeffrey Epstein was found dead in his prison cell in 2019 while awaiting trial on sex trafficking charges.
