Legendary skateboarder Tony Hawk has firmly denied claims that any of his four weddings took place on Jeffrey Epstein’s private island, Little Saint James. The assertion surfaced in Epstein’s files, where an alleged victim stated she was on the island during Prince Andrew’s visit and ‘when Tony Hawk got married on the island.’

Clarification on 2006 Fiji Wedding

Hawk’s third marriage to lingerie store owner Lhotse Merriam occurred in 2006 at the Tavarua Island resort in Fiji. Official Getty Images captions confirm the location, and wide-angle photos from the event match known images of Tavarua when searched via Google reverse image tools. Hawk previously competed there in the 2004 Kelly Slater Invitational surfing event.

Speculation arose due to the photographer, Mark Epstein, sharing a name with Jeffrey Epstein’s brother. Hawk emphasized that this Mark Epstein is an accomplished sports photographer from Wyoming with no relation to the late sex offender.

Hawk’s Direct Response

In an Instagram post, Hawk addressed the rumors head-on: ‘One of the guests in 2006 shot photos of the Fiji ceremony and licensed them to Getty Images. His name is [coincidentally] Mark Epstein… of no relation to Jeffrey Epstein (who I never met and whose island I never visited). This is all easily verifiable information. Facts are not fungible.’

He apologized to the photographer for the unintended association and provided details on his other weddings to dispel doubts:

• 1990: To Cindy Dunbar at their home in Fallbrook, California.
• 1996: To Erin Lee at the Hilton Hotel in San Diego, California.
• 2015: To current wife Catherine Goodman at Adare Manor in County Limerick, Ireland.

Context of Epstein Files

The files contain millions of documents related to Epstein’s activities. Hawk’s sole mention, aside from references to one of his video games, is this single claim. Epstein, who died by suicide in 2019 while awaiting trial on sex trafficking charges, had pleaded guilty in 2008 to soliciting prostitution from a minor and was registered as a sex offender.

Hawk, considered the greatest skateboarder in history, retired from professional competition in 2003.