Epstein files reignite pain as Melinda French Gates addresses forgiveness of ex Bill Gates

Melinda French Gates has spoken candidly about forgiveness, trust, and healing in the wake of renewed attention surrounding the so-called Epstein files, revealing that revisiting the controversy has reopened deep emotional wounds from her marriage to Bill Gates.

In a recent interview, French Gates acknowledged that the resurfacing of documents connected to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein — in which Bill Gates’ name appears — brought back what she described as “unbelievable sadness.” The renewed scrutiny, she said, forced her to once again confront painful chapters from her past, even years after her divorce from the Microsoft co-founder.

When asked directly whether she has forgiven her ex-husband, French Gates stopped short of giving a definitive answer. “I think I’m going to keep that one to myself,” she said, describing forgiveness as “a work in progress” and adding, “I think I’m getting there.” While she emphasized that forgiveness is important for personal healing, she made it clear that the process cannot be rushed.

French Gates reflected more broadly on forgiveness, noting that while she believes she is capable of it, true forgiveness takes time and deep emotional work. “I’ve learned that forgiveness can take a long time,” she explained, adding that unresolved hurt can end up harming the person who holds onto it. “If you can’t eventually forgive somebody, then you hurt yourself, I think.”

She also opened up about how broken trust affected her ability to imagine future relationships. “I thought it might never happen for me again,” she admitted, referring to the difficulty of trusting after the end of their 27-year marriage. Still, she credited self-trust as the key to moving forward, saying, “I trusted myself though.”

Since the divorce, French Gates has focused on her philanthropic work and personal growth, carving out a life independent of her former marriage. While she has largely kept the details of her healing private, her comments underscore how lingering public controversies — including the Epstein revelations — continue to cast a shadow, even as she works toward peace, closure, and forgiveness on her own terms.