Skateboarding legend Tony Hawk recently addressed swirling rumors connecting him to Jeffrey Epstein’s infamous private island. The speculation arose after an email in the Epstein Files mentioned Hawk in the context of a wedding on "Epstein Island," prompting public curiosity—and concern.
Tony Hawk firmly denies these claims, clarifying that none of his four weddings took place on Epstein’s Little Saint James island or any other related property. In fact, Hawk has never even met Jeffrey Epstein.
The origin of the confusion stems partly from a photographer named Mark Epstein who captured images at Hawk’s third wedding in 2006. These photographs, now archived by Getty Images, were taken on Tavarua Island, a renowned surfing hotspot in Fiji—not Epstein Island. Coincidentally, the photographer shares the Epstein surname but is reportedly unrelated to Jeffrey Epstein. Hawk emphasized this fact, underscoring the error and misinformation spreading online.
Further complicating matters, one alleged Epstein victim referenced Hawk’s wedding in her statements to investigators, claiming she was present on the island when Hawk supposedly married there. Hawk’s team quickly responded to this as well, highlighting that the only verifiable public records place his wedding in Fiji, and no credible evidence supports the claim they occurred on Epstein’s island.
Tony Hawk detailed the locations of all his weddings to provide transparency:
- His first marriage to Cindy Dunbar took place at their home in Fallbrook, California, in 1990.
- His second to Erin Lee was held at the Hilton Hotel in San Diego, California, in 1996.
- The third, with lingerie entrepreneur Lhotse Merriam, occurred on Tavarua Island, Fiji, in 2006.
- His current marriage to Catherine Goodman was celebrated in 2015 at Adare Manor in County Limerick, Ireland.
Throughout the controversy, Hawk maintained a respectful tone, apologizing to the photographer Mark Epstein for the unintended association and the “misinformation vortex” that ensued. He made clear he wishes to rely on facts, noting, “Facts are not fungible.”
The Epstein Files, which consist of millions of documents related to Epstein’s criminal investigations, mention Hawk only a handful of times—mostly in unrelated contexts such as references to his video games. Being named in the files does not imply any wrongdoing or connection to Epstein’s crimes.
Widely regarded as one of the greatest skateboarders in history, Tony Hawk retired from professional competition more than two decades ago and continues to enjoy a positive public image. His recent clarification aims to put the rumors to rest and protect his legacy from unfounded accusations linked solely by name coincidence.
In a climate where misinformation can spread rapidly, Hawk’s transparent response highlights the importance of verifying facts before jumping to conclusions. For fans and the public alike, it is now clear: Tony Hawk’s weddings were never connected to Jeffrey Epstein’s island, and he himself has no association with the disgraced financier.
