Shark Tank star Kevin O’Leary sparked controversy during a heated CNN debate on July 21, when he dismissed public concern over the Jeffrey Epstein files and made inflammatory comments about potential victims. The businessman, known as “Mr. Wonderful,” engaged in a fierce argument with panelists on CNN NewsNight while defending the Trump administration’s handling of the Epstein document release.
The confrontation began when journalist Ahmed Baba argued that President Donald Trump had made a fundamental promise to his base about rooting out corrupt elites, with the Epstein files being a key component of this narrative. Baba suggested that Trump’s handling of the situation proved he was actually part of the corrupt elite himself.
O’Leary interrupted the discussion, declaring that “nobody gives a damn about Epstein ’cause he’s still dead.” He emphasized that average Americans at the kitchen table were not concerned about the controversy and were instead focused on providing for their families. The investor repeatedly insisted that the deceased sex offender was not a priority for ordinary citizens.
When CNN anchor Abby Phillip presented polling data showing that 83 percent of Republicans wanted the administration to release all documents related to the Epstein investigation, O’Leary remained unmoved. He questioned how many minutes per day average Americans spent worrying about the issue, making the controversial statement that dominated headlines: “Maybe they were raped, maybe they weren’t.”
Phillip reminded O’Leary that there were confirmed victims in the case, making his speculation inappropriate. However, the reality television star continued his dismissive stance, repeatedly stating that nobody cared about the issue and questioning whether any potential revelations would affect the American economy.
When fellow panelist Ana Kasparian from The Young Turks responded that there was more to life than economics and that Americans might be concerned about potential pedophiles serving in government, O’Leary continued to mock the situation. He suggested that even in a worst-case scenario where all allegations were true, it would not impact the nation’s economic performance.
The debate occurred against the backdrop of mounting pressure on the Trump administration regarding the Epstein files. The Department of Justice had concluded in a July 6 memo that Epstein died by suicide and did not maintain a client list for blackmail purposes, despite previous claims from Attorney General Pam Bondi about having such a list.
The administration faced criticism from MAGA supporters for walking back promises to release the Epstein documents. Trump initially responded to this backlash by calling his supporters “weaklings” and labeling the Epstein case a Democratic hoax, before pivoting to attack mainstream media as a unifying strategy.
The controversy intensified following a Wall Street Journal report about a lewd birthday card Trump allegedly gave Epstein in 2003, highlighting their past relationship. Trump denied the report and sued both the Wall Street Journal and its owner, prompting many conservatives to rally around him.
House Republicans prepared to leave for a six-week vacation without voting on a motion to release the Epstein files, while the administration launched other initiatives to distract from the controversy. Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard accused former President Barack Obama of a “treasonous conspiracy,” though conservative legal experts described these accusations as frivolous and foolish.
O’Leary’s appearance on the program seemed designed to provide cover for the Trump administration’s position on the Epstein files. His dismissive attitude toward potential victims and his focus solely on economic concerns drew immediate criticism from other panelists and viewers.
The IMDb report noted that O’Leary’s comments came during a period when the administration was actively working to deflect attention from the Epstein case through various means, including repackaging intelligence documents to make accusations against Obama and focusing public attention on shared grievances against mainstream media.
