‘Melania’ Director Brett Ratner Denies Epstein Ties After Resurfaced Photo Goes Viral

Brett Ratner is pushing back against suggestions that he was part of Jeffrey Epstein’s inner circle.

This comes after a massive new batch of documents tied to the criminal investigation into the late financier’s activities was released.

The photo, depicting Epstein seated alongside Ratner and two women whose faces are hidden, has begun trending online just as the “Rush Hour” director attempts a Hollywood comeback with his new documentary, “Melania.”

Ratner has largely remained on the sidelines of the industry in recent years, after multiple allegations of improper conduct surfaced against him in 2017.

The photo of Ratner and Epstein with two unidentified women has sparked renewed scrutiny of the director and his relationship with Epstein.

Ratner has moved quickly to shut down any suggestions that he enjoyed a close personal relationship with Epstein.

“I didn't have a personal relationship with him,” he insisted, during an interview with Fox News Digital.

The filmmaker claimed that the woman he was cuddling was his partner at the time, and that he was therefore not worried when the photo first emerged.

“I knew who was the person in the photo,” Ratner said. “So, I wasn't concerned about it at all.”

Ratner also addressed the personal toll that the continued speculation surrounding his alleged ties to Epstein has taken on his life.

Reflecting on the fallout from the resurfaced photo, the filmmaker defined the discourse as “crazy” and “horrible,” while doubling down on his claim that he believed he was attending an innocent social event alongside his partner.

“My fiancée invited me to that event,” Ratner said. “At the time, the girl in the picture was my fiancée. And that's it. That's all.”

Ratner has been strongly pushing back against rising speculation since the resurfaced Epstein photo began circulating online.

This new scrutiny comes at a pivotal moment for the filmmaker, who is attempting a return to Hollywood with his new documentary, “Melania.”

Ratner was effectively cancelled from the industry following allegations of sexual harassment against him, a reality that has come at a steep personal and professional price.

Back in 2013, Ratner secured a lucrative 75-film co-financing and co-producing agreement with Warner Bros.

That deal ultimately collapsed after the allegations, prompting the studio to sever ties with his production company.

Prior to “Melania,” Ratner’s last time in the director’s chair was in the 2014 action-adventure film “Hercules,” starring Dwayne Johnson.

“Melania” surprised many industry insiders with a strong box office debut during its opening domestic weekend.

The documentary grossed roughly $7 million from nearly 2,000 theaters, an unusually high figure for a nonfiction release.

However, some social media users were also quick to point out that documentaries are rarely as backed at the same financial level as “Melania.”

Amazon reportedly outbid rivals, including Netflix and Disney, with a record-setting $40 million deal for the film’s distribution rights.

An additional $35 million was said to have been allocated for marketing, according to The Wall Street Journal.

At the top of the domestic box office rankings was Sam Raimi’s “Send Help,” which earned approximately $20 million. Mark Fishbach’s indie “Iron Lung” followed closely behind in second place with $18 million.

Ratner’s prospects of mounting a full Hollywood comeback appear to be gaining momentum.

Reports suggest that Donald Trump has been pushing for a fourth installment of the “Rush Hour” franchise under the director’s guidance.

In November 2025, Variety reported that the president had been lobbying behind the scenes to revive the popular series.

Should the project move forward, Paramount Pictures is expected to take charge of distribution.

Leading stars Chris Tucker and Jackie Chan have both previously expressed interest in reprising their roles. Chan has even urged the producers to “hurry up” with a fourth film before he and Tucker grow too old to make it happen.