Melania film director Brett Ratner says he 'didn't know' Epstein

Hollywood director Brett Ratner has said he "didn't have a personal relationship" with Jeffrey Epstein after a photo emerged of him with the late sex offender and two women.

Ratner, who directed the new documentary about Melania Trump as well as the Rush Hour films, said he only met Epstein once and that the woman he was pictured embracing was his fiancée.

"About 20 years ago, I had a girlfriend," Ratner told Fox News. "I was in love with her. We were engaged. She was my fiancée.

"We went to an event, and we were sitting on the couch, and the photo was taken at that event. I didn't have a personal relationship with him. I didn't know him."

The photo was among millions of pictures and documents relating to Epstein that were released by the US Department of Justice (DoJ) on Friday.

Being named among the files is not an indication of wrongdoing.

Ratner added: "My fiancée invited me to that event. At the time, the girl in the picture was my fiancée. And that's it. That's all.

"You get thrown into these things. It's crazy. It's horrible."

The faces of the women in the photo are blacked out and there are no details of where or when the picture was taken.

In a separate interview with Piers Morgan, the film-maker said it had been taken about 20 years ago.

"I was never in contact with Jeffrey Epstein before that photo and I was never in contact with him after. So, that is a picture of me and my fiancée at some event," he said.

Asked whether he met Epstein before or after that picture, Ratner replied: "No, never, never."

The files also include further references to Ratner.

Emails from 2010 show Epstein tried and struggled to contact Ratner, exchanging emails with his assistant about the correct email address and phone number.

In 2011, the assistant apparently emailed Ratner to say Epstein wanted to speak to him. There is no evidence that Ratner received the messages or responded.

In an email from 2012, Epstein wrote to a publicist, apparently from the Cannes Film Festival, that he was "sitting next to Brett Ratner", adding: "Brett says hi and he loves you!"

In a 2018 iMessage, Epstein wrote to an unidentified recipient: "Hi , im jeffrey. Brett ratner thought we should meet."

BBC News has contacted Mr Ratner's representatives for further comment.

The director is also known for making films including 2006's X Men: The Last Stand and 2014's Hercules.

His film about the US First Lady was released on Friday, being panned by critics but beating box office predictions by earning $7m (£5.1m) in its opening weekend.

It is Ratner's first project since he was accused of sexual misconduct at the height of the #MeToo movement in 2017. Ratner has denied the allegations.