Controversial longevity expert Dr Peter Attia has resigned from his post as a CBS News contributor after correspondence between Attia and convicted sex trafficker Jeffrey Epstein was made public.
The Hollywood Reporter first broke the news of Attia’s departure.
Less than a month ago, Attia was announced as one of 19 new contributors to the network, as part of editor-in-chief Bari Weiss’s efforts to overhaul the news division. He joined the network just a few days before over 3m files were released as part of the federal government’s investigation into Epstein.
Included among the files were multiple instances of communication between Attia and Epstein, most of them from the mid-2010s, after Epstein had already pleaded guilty in 2008 to prostitution charges involving a minor. The messages indicate a congenial relationship between the two men, with Epstein sometimes seeking out Attia for medical advice. In a particularly crude exchange from 2016, Attia insinuates that female genitalia is considered “low carb”.
After the file disclosure, Attia wrote a lengthy apology on social media, which he also shared with his team and patients. He also stepped down from his position as chief science officer for David, a protein bar company, in the aftermath of the Epstein files release.
“I apologize and regret putting myself in a position where emails, some of them embarrassing, tasteless and indefensible, are now public, and that is on me,” Attia said. “I accept that reality and the humiliation that comes with it.”
In the same note, Attia clarified that he “was not involved in any criminal activity”, and that his interactions “with Epstein had nothing to do with his sexual abuse or exploitation of anyone”. He also stated that he had never been on Epstein’s plane or visited his island.
CBS News insiders were unhappy that CBS had not moved more quickly to oust Attia. But last week, an executive sent staffers a list of the network’s new contributors with points of contact. Attia’s name was not on it.
Attia’s resignation was disclosed in an email to employees in the booking department of CBS News on Monday, according to reports.
A spokesperson for Attia said: “Dr Attia’s contributor role was newly established and had not yet meaningfully begun. As such, he stepped back to ensure his involvement didn’t become a distraction from the important work being done at CBS. He wishes the network and its leadership well and has no further comment at this time.”
Attia is the host of the popular podcast The Peter Attia Drive and author of the bestseller Outlive: The Science and Art of Longevity.
