Supermodel Gigi Hadid has finally addressed her name appearing in documents linked to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein and her response is focused on drawing a clear line between speculation and reality.

The issue resurfaced after a 2015 email exchange, recently released by the US Department of Justice, showed Epstein discussing how Gigi and her sister Bella Hadid became successful models. In the exchange, an unnamed person questioned whether their success was financially backed by their family.

Epstein dismissed that claim, replying, "No… Because they follow directions, it's that simple."

For weeks, Gigi Hadid had remained silent on the matter. But that changed after a social media user publicly criticised her for not addressing the controversy.

In a now-deleted reply on Instagram, the model explained her initial silence, writing, "Horrible to read someone you've never met speak about you that way. Especially in this context."

She added that her decision not to comment earlier was intentional, "I didn't comment bc I don't want to take away from the stories of real victims of his."

However, she said the criticism made her realise that her silence could be misunderstood.

Addressing the issue directly, Hadid made her stance clear, "To be named in those files, I think I was 20-21 at the time he would have written that email, is disturbing. And I want to state unequivocally that I have never had any affiliation with that disgusting human being."

Gigi also touched on claims about her upbringing and career path. Acknowledging that she grew up with certain advantages, she credited her parents, Mohamed Hadid and Yolanda Hadid, for instilling discipline and work ethic.