Shark Tank star Kevin O’Leary sparked controversy during a heated CNN NewsNight panel discussion on July 21, when he dismissed concerns about the Jeffrey Epstein files and victims while defending the Trump administration’s handling of the case.
The confrontation erupted when journalist Ahmed Baba argued that Trump had made a fundamental deal with his base to root out a mysterious cabal of elites, with the Epstein files being a key part of that narrative. Baba suggested that Trump was proving himself to be one of these corrupt elites.
O’Leary interrupted the discussion, declaring that nobody gives a damn about Epstein because he is still dead. The businessman, known as “Mr. Wonderful,” argued that the average person at the kitchen table is not worrying about Epstein and instead wants to provide for their family.
When CNN anchor Abby Phillip pointed out that a recent survey found 83 percent of Republicans want the administration to release all documents related to the Epstein investigation, O’Leary remained dismissive of public interest in the matter.
O’Leary questioned how many minutes the average American, awake for 18 hours a day, spends worrying about such issues. He controversially speculated about potential victims, suggesting uncertainty about whether assaults occurred, while maintaining that American families do not care about these concerns. When reminded by Phillip that there were confirmed victims, making speculation inappropriate, O’Leary continued his dismissive stance.
The reality television personality emphasized his position by repeating that nobody cares about the issue, asking whether any revelations would affect the American economy. When The Young Turks’ Ana Kasparian responded that there is more to life than the economy and that the public might be concerned about potential pedophiles serving in government, O’Leary mocked the drama surrounding the case.
The Department of Justice concluded in a July 6 memo that Epstein died by suicide and did not maintain a client list for blackmail purposes, despite Attorney General Pam Bondi previously claiming she had such a list. This conclusion has faced MAGA backlash for walking back promises to release the Epstein files.
Trump initially reacted to criticism by calling his past supporters “weaklings” for focusing on the Epstein case, which he began characterizing as a Democratic hoax. The Wall Street Journal published details about a lewd birthday card Trump allegedly gave Epstein in 2003, highlighting their past relationship, though Trump denied the report and sued the publication.
The Trump administration has since attempted to redirect attention by accusing former President Barack Obama of a “treasonous conspiracy” related to intelligence documents, though conservative legal experts have described these accusations as frivolous and foolish. House Republicans are preparing for a six-week vacation without voting on a motion to release the Epstein files.
Beyond his controversial CNN appearance, O’Leary has been expanding his media presence. He recently landed a role in the upcoming A24 film “Marty Supreme,” starring Timothée Chalamet as a professional ping-pong player. O’Leary plays Milton Rockwell, described as one of the wealthiest men in 1950s America and husband to Gwyneth Paltrow’s character.
Director Josh Safdie and writer Ronald Bronstein approached O’Leary for the role, with the businessman joking that they sought him out because they needed someone to play a particular type of character. O’Leary indicated that the filmmakers were huge Shark Tank fans and that the story relates to the American dream.
The 71-year-old businessman praised Chalamet’s performance, describing the actor as full of electricity and suggesting he might receive an Oscar nomination for the role. O’Leary noted he took no acting lessons and was simply encouraged to be himself during filming.
“This is his movie,” O’Leary said about Chalamet’s performance in the upcoming film.
The film, set for a Christmas Day 2025 release, features approximately 140 non-actors alongside professional performers, including magician Penn Jillette and French tightrope walker Philippe Petit. O’Leary receives fourth billing in the trailer, suggesting a significant role in the production.
O’Leary has also been active in business ventures, recently indicating progress on a potential TikTok acquisition deal and continuing his investment activities through O’Leary Ventures, which has backed more than 80 startups.
