Anne Heche: How cannibalism rumours tied to the Epstein files spread online
Claims that newly released records connected Ellen DeGeneres to cannibalism have circulated broadly online, and that narrative has been extended to include anne heche. The documents and posthumous records cited by the rumours do not link those allegations to DeGeneres, and the official record of Heche's death remains unchanged.
What the U. S. Department of Justice documents contain
The U. S. Department of Justice released material tied to Jeffrey Epstein in January 2026, and millions of files were released in February 2026, prompting a large public examination of the dataset. The files include references to the words "cannibal" (52 instances) and "cannibalism" (six instances), many of which appear to be duplications. Those mentions appear inside media digests, an academic syllabus, a transcript of a conversation between Epstein and a man named "Richard, " and an email about jerky and "a restaurant called Cannibal. "
How Ellen DeGeneres' name appears in the files
Although DeGeneres' name appears in the released material, the documents examined show no linkage between those mentions and the references to cannibalism. DeGeneres' name appears largely in articles about other celebrities, in compilations of tweets from her old talk show that were sent to Epstein by a social platform, in a redacted email quoting a college graduation speech she reportedly made, and in a newsletter item in which she addressed allegations of misconduct on her show. A publicist named Peggy Siegal wrote in an email that was forwarded to Epstein about seeing DeGeneres dancing at a party on the island of St. Barts. Being mentioned in the files is not itself evidence of wrongdoing.
Claims that a conspiracy post linked DeGeneres to eating Anne Heche
Online posts and a sensational conspiracy post alleged that newly discussed Epstein-related documents proved extreme crimes, including a claim that DeGeneres "ate" Anne Heche. Those posts spread on social media, with some users asserting DeGeneres left the United States because of alleged material in the document dump. The claim that the files show DeGeneres is a "prolific cannibal" is false; there is no documentation in the released material linking DeGeneres to cannibalism.
Anne Heche's official death record and timeline
Anne Heche's death was ruled an accident by the Los Angeles County Medical Examiner-Coroner in 2022. The coroner listed smoke inhalation and thermal injuries as the cause of death and noted a sternal fracture due to blunt trauma as a significant condition. Heche was hospitalized after a car crash in Los Angeles in August 2022, and the coroner's findings identified smoke inhalation and thermal injuries with blunt-force trauma noted as part of the official record. Heche and DeGeneres previously had a highly publicised relationship in the late 1990s, and Heche's posthumous memoir, Call Me Anne, was published in 2023 and includes material about that relationship.
Other names and miscellaneous items found in the datasets
The dataset review surfaced other distinct items that circulated alongside the cannibalism chatter: a purchase of the Baltimore Orioles spearheaded by Rubenstein and fellow private-equity billionaire Mike Arougheti in 2024, buying the team from the Angelos family; the name Tisch appearing in hundreds of emails in the latest dataset; and a range of unrelated content such as sports newsletter blurbs. For example, a newsletter item noted how to get tickets to an NHL game before the end of the season, and coverage of the NFL Scouting Combine in Indianapolis mentioned hosts Matt Harmon and Justin Boone, Boone revealing five favorite sleeper prospects for the 2026 fantasy season, and NFL Draft expert Connor Rogers answering questions heading into the 2026 NFL Draft.
What fact-checking of the dump has established
Fact-checking work across the newly released material has shown that references to "cannibal" and "cannibalism" are present in the files but are not connected to DeGeneres, and no verifiable evidence in the released documents ties DeGeneres to cannibalism or to any alleged homicide of anne heche. The more lurid claims rest on sensational posts, unverified assertions about "unredacted" material and unnamed "investigators, " and do not substitute for documented, official evidence. The coroner's report on Heche's death stands as the official record unless new, verifiable evidence emerges that can withstand scrutiny.
