Whoopi Goldberg Sets the Record Straight as Her Name Appears in the Epstein Files

Whoopi Goldberg is addressing questions after her name surfaced in the newly released Jeffrey Epstein files. The reference traces back to a single document.

On the February 17, 2026, episode of "The View," Whoopi Goldberg spoke out after a years-old U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) record bearing her name began gaining traction online.

As reactions mounted, Goldberg told viewers she wanted to address the matter herself and clarify how her name appeared in the released files.

What the Email Shows

On the broadcast of "The View," Goldberg addressed the release of DOJ records after a 2013 email referencing her began circulating online.

"In the name of transparency, my name is in the files," she said as the May 8, 2013 message appeared on screen.

The document stated, "Whoopi Goldberg needs a plane to get to Monaco. John Lennon's Charity is paying for it. They don't want to charter so they are looking for private owners." It also referenced an event in Monaco tied to the White Feather Foundation, founded by Julian Lennon.

The unidentified sender asked Epstein, "Would you want to offer the GII?" — appearing to reference one of his aircraft. Epstein responded, "no thnaks (sic)."

After Goldberg read the message aloud, co-host Joy Behar remarked, "So in other words, anybody can be on this list."

According to the DOJ archive, her name also appears in other materials, including news articles collected during the investigation. The May 2013 message appears to be the only record reflecting direct correspondence involving her name, and she has not been accused of wrongdoing.

Even so, Goldberg said the online response extended beyond the contents of the document.

Goldberg Pushes Back on Speculation

Responding to online reaction, Goldberg said, "People actually believe that I was with him." She told viewers she is "getting dragged" over the mention.

When co-host Sara Haines commented, "You were too old for him," Goldberg replied, "I was not only too old, but it was at a time, you know, where this is just not — you used to have to have facts before you said stuff."

Goldberg also said, "It's like, honey, come on. Every man that I've ever been with, you've known about him...people wrote about this stuff. So, no, I never had this — and no, I didn't get on the plane."

She then emphasized, "I wasn't his girlfriend. I wasn't his friend."

The recent discussion echoes a previous moment when Goldberg confronted similar claims on air.

Earlier Rumors Resurface

Goldberg and her co-hosts have discussed the Epstein files on prior broadcasts of "The View."

She previously responded to claims about her name during the January 4, 2024 episode, after what she described as a "fake list" circulated online.

"Apparently, I don't know, they said I was on the island...And I'm like, I don't go anywhere," Goldberg said, referencing Epstein's private residence in the U.S. Virgin Islands.

She also commented about the online claims about her, saying she did not understand why the rumors were circulating and noting that some websites publish satirical content that can be harmful when readers mistake it for factual reporting.

The scrutiny surrounding the files has not been limited to Goldberg.

A Wider Investigation Draws Global Attention

The broader Epstein investigation has drawn in other prominent figures. According to the Associated Press, Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor was arrested in Britain on suspicion of misconduct in public office related to his links to Epstein.

Police held Mountbatten-Windsor for about 11 hours before releasing him under investigation, meaning he was neither charged nor cleared.

The arrest marked the first time in nearly four centuries that a senior British royal had been detained. King Charles III said in a statement, "Let me state clearly: the law must take its course," declining further comment as the process continues.

The continued release of Epstein-related records shows how widely the investigation has reached, drawing responses from public figures in the U.S. and abroad.

As previously reported, the department has published thousands of pages from its Epstein records archive, including documents that reference a Grammy-winning rapper in multiple contexts.

Excerpts from the records circulated widely online, and the context surrounding those references became blurred, prompting pop singer Lizzo to address the discussion publicly.

Inside the DOJ Files: What the Records Show

One document in the DOJ archive is a redacted email sent to Epstein on July 15, 2013, at 2:18 a.m. EDT. The email carries the subject line "Lessons From the Jay-Z Business Model -- Vulture." The only visible commentary in the message is the brief phrase "Extremely clever."

A separate document in the archive is a Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) intake report dated July 10, 2019, at 8:20 a.m. EDT.

The report summarizes a call made to the FBI's National Threat Operations Center (NTOC) by an individual who identified herself as a victim of sexual abuse involving Epstein and others.

Within that report, the unidentified caller recounts alleged experiences and names several individuals as part of her narrative.

The names visible in the document include Shawn Carter (Jay-Z), Leon Black, and William Barr. The document also includes the name "Weinstein."

As the documents gained traction online, the focus then shifted to the comments Lizzo shared publicly.

Lizzo Responds With a Hypothetical Comparison

In a now-deleted TikTok video shared on X, Lizzo addressed the reaction surrounding the DOJ files and offered an analogy as a way to defend Jay-Z:

"If you stole an apple from Walmart and you were on trial for stealing an apple from Walmart, is every person in your phone an accomplice? Is every person in your phone, is every email you sent to a person, or speaking about a person or does that -- does that make a person complicit, does that make a person a bad guy? No. No. It doesn't."

Lizzo later pointed to the email reference specifically, "He referenced Jay-Z once. He was like, 'oh, we could learn from Jay-Z's business model.' Why are y’all… Where's the crime? Focus."

The conversation quickly moved beyond the video itself.

Netizens React and Push Back

Lizzo's now-deleted TikTok prompted immediate questions after the post disappeared. Following the deletion, commenters continued the conversation in her other post on the platform.

Someone else wrote, "why you defending JayZ [sic]?" Others simply noted the moment as it happened, commenting, "She deleted the video 😂."

The discussion then spread to X. A different viewer supported the singer's stance, "Lizzo is right" and another stated, "she's correct." Others were more critical, typing, "Girl if his own wife ain’t out here defending him then why are you?"

The mixed reaction reflects the broader divide online as the DOJ's Epstein file release continues to prompt debate, interpretation, and public responses from those whose names appear in the records.