New Dating Red Flag Alert: Being Mentioned in the Epstein Files
FBI File on Jeffrey Epstein
Matchmaker Nick Rosen Reveals the Latest Deal-Breaker That’s Got Singles Talking
Forget ghosting. Move over, breadcrumbing. Gaslighting is so last season. According to matchmaker Nick Rosen, who has interviewed thousands of singles nationwide and internationally, there’s a new red flag that’s creating unprecedented consensus in the dating world: being mentioned in the Epstein files.
“I’ve been in this business for years, and I’ve never seen such unanimous agreement on a deal-breaker,” says Rosen, founder of Met By Nick and co-founder of QUALITY matchmaking. “This is joining the ranks of traditional red flags, but honestly, it might be surpassing them.”
The feedback from singles has been remarkably consistent across demographics.
Buck, a single man in his 40s, put it bluntly: “Look, it’s tough for me to date someone who is curvy, but I’d give that person a shot as long as they’re not mentioned in the Epstein Files.”
Michelle, in her mid-30s, shared a similar sentiment: "Height used to be my biggest thing; I wouldn't date anyone under 5'10". But honestly? I'd go out with a 5'9" guy tomorrow. Being in the Epstein Files though? That's where I draw the line."
“I’m getting this feedback in my own interviews as just a matchmaker,” Rosen explains. “With such a unanimous trend, I think other dating professionals and even academics should be taking a look to see if this trend is being displayed when they speak to singles too.”
The shift represents a significant change in dating priorities. Tobacco use, past infidelities, snoring, and being high maintenance used to be top-tier deal breakers across the board. But now, being mentioned in the Epstein Files has made it really tough for singles who appear in those documents to find romantic connections.
Case Study: The Larry Summers Consultation
Larry Summers in 2018. Photo: Mark Kauzlarich/Bloomberg via Getty Images
The real-world impact of this trend became abundantly clear when former Harvard President Larry Summers reached out to Rosen for matchmaking services. Summers, whose marriage is reportedly heading toward divorce, was hoping for a fresh start in the dating world.
The timing of his outreach was particularly notable. Just days earlier, House Republicans had released over 20,000 files from the Epstein estate, revealing extensive correspondence between Summers and convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. The documents showed that between November 2018 and July 2019, Summers had turned to Epstein for dating advice while pursuing what he called a “clandestine relationship” with a woman he described as a mentee; all while married.
In the released exchanges, Epstein referred to himself as Summers’ “wing man.” The two men used the code name “peril” to discuss the woman. Summers forwarded her private emails to Epstein for analysis and discussed strategies for navigating the relationship. At one point, the two men joked about the probability of Summers “getting horizontal” with her, comparing it to forecasting Trump’s reelection odds.
Perhaps most striking was the timeline: Summers continued seeking Epstein’s counsel even after major investigations into Epstein’s crimes had been published and after the Department of Justice opened an investigation into his 2008 plea deal. Their correspondence ended on July 5, 2019; just one day before Epstein’s arrest on sex trafficking charges.
During their 45-minute consultation call, Summers was surprisingly open about his situation. “He recounted his family upbringing being overbearing and having a life that was so accomplishment-focused,” Rosen recalls. “He told me he realizes now he was never in the proper mindset for a committed relationship.”
Summers, who served as Treasury Secretary under President Bill Clinton and currently holds Harvard’s highest faculty distinction as a University Professor, spoke candidly about the newly released documents. He acknowledged the emails, the code names, the forwarded messages; all of it.
“He seemed genuinely reflective,” Rosen says. “He talked about making ‘a major error of judgement’ in his association with Epstein. He wanted to move forward, find real connection, do things differently this time.”
Rosen listened sympathetically, allowing Summers to share his journey of self-discovery. But as the conversation continued, Rosen knew he had to be direct.
“Larry, I appreciate your vulnerability here,” Rosen told him. “I really do. You’ve clearly done some reflecting. You acknowledge your mistakes. But I have to be honest with you: your main concern going forward, and what makes your match search impossible, is that you’re mentioned in the Epstein files.”
There was a long pause on the line.
“Even if we found someone willing to overlook everything else,” Rosen continued, “the Harvard controversies, the pursuit of a mentee while married, the forwarding of private emails to a convicted sex offender for romantic strategy sessions; the Epstein files mention itself is just insurmountable in today’s dating market. I’m sorry, but I’d be taking your money under false pretenses.”
Summers reportedly tried to find a workaround. “What if I dated someone who’s also mentioned in the files?” he suggested. “We’d have common ground, shared experiences.”
“Larry,” Rosen replied gently, “that’s not the direction we want to go.”
The Bigger Picture
The matchmaking community is still processing this emerging trend, but one thing is clear: in 2025, singles are raising their standards in ways we never anticipated.
“It’s creating real challenges in the dating pool,” Rosen notes. “Height requirements are negotiable. Body type preferences can be flexible. Past career controversies? We can work with that. Even controversial statements about gender differences in science, which contributed to ending Summers’ Harvard presidency, that’s a yellow flag, but we can potentially address it. But being mentioned in the Epstein Files? That’s where people are drawing a hard line.”
The Summers case exemplifies just how insurmountable this particular red flag has become. Here was someone with impressive credentials: former Treasury Secretary, former Harvard President, currently a University Professor and yet none of it could outweigh the Epstein connection.
“The dating landscape has fundamentally shifted,” Rosen explains. “Singles are saying they’d rather be alone than compromise on this particular issue. And honestly? I respect that boundary.”
When asked what advice he’d give to others who find themselves mentioned in those documents, Rosen was philosophical: “Maybe focus on personal growth? Take up gardening? Learn to enjoy your own company? The dating market has spoken.”
Disclaimer: This is is a satirical piece
