The recent release of millions of documents by the US Justice Department, stemming from its extensive investigation into the notorious convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, has once again brought to light the complex web of connections between Epstein and various prominent public figures. However, among the flood of information, certain images circulating online that allegedly depict former US President Bill Clinton alongside the late physicist Stephen Hawking, with Hawking dressed in a princess costume, have been conclusively identified as artificially generated and not authentic.
These images gained traction on social media platforms, including a widely shared post on Weibo dated March 8, 2026, which claimed to show “new photos from Epstein Island” featuring Clinton holding Hawking. The post, written in simplified Chinese, amassed over 1,800 shares, fueling speculation and discomfort among viewers. The pictures seemingly portray Clinton and Hawking holding dolls, with Clinton carrying Hawking in an unusual and highly improbable scenario. Despite the viral nature of these images, a deeper investigation reveals they are products of artificial intelligence rather than genuine photographs.
To provide some background, the Justice Department made public an additional three million documents on January 30, 2026, related to its probe into Epstein, who died in a New York jail in 2019 while awaiting trial on charges of sex trafficking involving underage girls. These files have exposed Epstein’s extensive network, which includes influential business leaders, celebrities, academics, and politicians. Both Clinton and Hawking appear in some of the images contained within these files, but it is crucial to understand that mere inclusion in the documents does not imply any criminal involvement or wrongdoing.
In fact, the released documents primarily highlight Epstein’s associations and social circles rather than direct evidence of illicit activities involving these figures. For instance, Bill Clinton is seen in the files in casual settings such as a hot tub and a pool alongside a woman whose face has been redacted for privacy reasons. Clinton later testified before a congressional panel led by Republicans in February, firmly denying any knowledge of Epstein’s criminal conduct. His wife, Hillary Clinton, who served as Secretary of State, also stated she had no connection to Epstein. Bill Clinton has maintained that he severed ties with Epstein well before the financier’s illegal activities became public in 2008.
Stephen Hawking’s presence in the files is similarly contextual. He appears in photographs taken at a 2006 physics conference funded by Epstein, posing with two women in bikinis. Hawking, who battled a severe form of motor neurone disease, passed away in 2018. His family clarified to The Times newspaper that the women in the photos were his personal carers, dispelling any insinuations of impropriety. These clarifications are important to counter the misleading narratives that have emerged alongside the document release.
The questionable images spread rapidly across various platforms such as Weibo, Threads, X, and Douyin, with some users expressing unease and others accepting them as genuine evidence. Comments ranged from discomfort to outright suspicion about the nature of the images. However, a meticulous examination uncovered telltale signs of AI manipulation, including distorted fingers and other visual anomalies commonly associated with computer-generated pictures.
Further investigation traced the origin of the image showing Clinton carrying Hawking to a Facebook group named “Crazed AI,” where it was first posted on February 28, 2026. Another related image appeared in the same group on March 1. Both images were falsely labeled with captions such as “Image E887671 of Epstein files” and “Image E663337 of Epstein files,” yet no corresponding records exist within the official Justice Department database of Epstein files. The individual responsible for sharing these images, Marc-André Lavoie, is known for regularly posting AI-generated content related to Epstein in this group. Lavoie admitted that he created the images using X’s AI chatbot Grok and acknowledged that the file numbers and captions were fabricated. He emphasized that his intention was never to spread false rumors but to share AI-generated art within appropriate communities.
This incident highlights the growing challenge of distinguishing genuine evidence from AI-manipulated content, especially in high-profile investigations that attract intense public scrutiny. It also underscores the importance of critical evaluation and verification before accepting sensational claims on social media. Previous fact-checks have similarly debunked misinformation surrounding the Epstein files, reinforcing the need for caution in interpreting leaked documents and associated media.
