Tony Hawk has strongly refuted baseless rumors claiming he held one of his weddings on Jeffrey Epstein’s Little St. James Island, calling it a fabrication. The skateboarder addressed these rumors on social media following the release of new documents from Jeffrey Epstein’s estate.
These newly released documents, totaling over three million, are part of the archives related to Epstein, though they do not encompass the entire collection. While the files mention several prominent individuals, inclusion in these documents does not imply any misconduct.
Through an Instagram story, Hawk emphatically debunked the false claims, providing clarity on his marriage history.
“Here are the facts and timelines of my nuptials,” he stated. “And I apologize if they don’t fit a narrative of nonsense.”
Hawk proceeded to detail his weddings and their locations to clear any confusion.
In 1990, he married Cindy Dunbar in Fallbrook, California. Their marriage ended in 1993. Hawk’s second marriage was to Erin Lee in 1996 at a Hilton Hotel in San Diego; they separated in 2004.
Hawk’s third marriage to Lhotse Merriam occurred in 2006 on Tavarua Surf Island in Fiji. However, they divorced in 2011.
His current marriage is to Catherine Goodman, whom he wed in 2015 at Adare Manor in Ireland. They remain married today.
The source of the false rumor that Hawk married on Epstein’s island is linked to photographs from his 2006 wedding to Merriam. These photos were taken by a sports photographer named Mark Epstein, who is unrelated to Jeffrey Epstein. Hawk apologized to Mark Epstein in his post, clarifying any confusion.
“One of the guests in 2006 shot photos of the Fiji ceremony and licensed them to Getty Images,” he explained.
He added, “His name is [coincidentally] Mark Epstein, an accomplished action sports photographer from Wyoming and of no relation to Jeffrey Epstein (who I never met and whose island I never visited).”
In concluding, Hawk emphasized the importance of verifying facts, stating, “This is all easily verifiable information. Facts are not fungible.”
The mix-up of the surname ‘Epstein,’ belonging to an unrelated individual, coupled with island photos from Tavarua Surf Island in Fiji—far from Little Saint James in the US Virgin Islands—fueled the internet’s rumor mill.