WASHINGTON, DC (November 17, 2025) – The National Center on Sexual Exploitation (NCOSE) says that Megyn Kelly’s recent comments about whether Jeffrey Epstein qualifies as a pedophile based on the ages of his victims dangerously downplays the heinous nature of exploiting minors.
Kelly suggested that Epstein’s preference for “barely legal” 15-year-old girls—who she appallingly claimed could “pass for even younger than they were but would look legal to a passerby”—is somehow relevant amid pleas from the survivors and the public for transparency and justice in the Jeffrey Epstein matter. She further implied that abusing 15-year-olds is distinct from abusing younger children, stating, “there’s a difference between a 15-year-old and a 5-year-old.”
“Child sexual abuse is child sexual abuse—full stop. Our teens are at highest risk for grooming, exploitation, and sex trafficking particularly as these crimes move further online,” said Dr. Marcel van der Watt, President and CEO, National Center on Sexual Exploitation. “Megyn Kelly’s comments perpetuate dangerous myths that enable predators and silence survivors. By questioning Epstein’s status as a pedophile and drawing arbitrary lines based on age, she contributes to a culture that normalizes the sexualization of teens and fails to hold abusers accountable. Survivors of Epstein’s network, like so many others, deserve unwavering support and justice, not media figures who equivocate on the severity of their trauma.”
“Her comments are in stark contrast to her previous statements supporting teenage survivors of sexual abuse where she recognized the heinous and intolerable nature of sexual crimes against teenagers. Epstein was charged with sex trafficking of minors, exploiting girls as young as 14. Minimizing these acts due to the victims’ ages when they were abused ignores the power imbalances, coercion, and lasting harm inflicted on victims, many of whom have described how Epstein’s abuse derailed their lives, education, and well-being.
“We urge Kelly to retract these irresponsible statements and commit to amplifying survivor voices rather than diminishing their experiences. We welcome a conversation with Kelly to share how she can bring much-needed attention to the harsh reality of sex trafficking in our country and throughout the world,” Van der Watt said.
About National Center on Sexual Exploitation (NCOSE)
Founded in 1962, the National Center on Sexual Exploitation (NCOSE) is the leading national non-profit organization exposing the links between all forms of sexual exploitation such as child sexual abuse, prostitution, sex trafficking and the public health harms of pornography.
To schedule an interview with NCOSE, please contact press@ncose.com.
