Frédéric Fekkai Sued by Seven Women Over Alleged Epstein Grooming Scheme

Seven women have sued celebrity hairstylist Frédéric Fekkai, alleging he participated in grooming them for Jeffrey Epstein, including, according to the complaint, bleaching their hair blond at Epstein's direction and styling them 'like dolls' to suit the disgraced financier's preferences.

The 17-page complaint, filed in New York Supreme Court on 1 September 2026, names Fekkai and his employee Patrick Coombs as defendants. The plaintiffs allege that Fekkai's Manhattan salon became 'the epicentre for victim grooming' as part of Epstein's wider network.

The lawsuit comes amid renewed Congressional scrutiny of Epstein's associates and follows separate allegations that Fekkai sexually assaulted one of Epstein's former aides. Fekkai has denied wrongdoing in relation to those allegations.

Lawsuit Alleges Grooming and Salon Visits

According to the complaint, obtained by Courthouse News Service and TMZ, Epstein allegedly directed Fekkai to alter the women's appearances to suit his preferences.

The filing states that Epstein 'would direct Fekkai to bleach victims blond and groom them like dolls into Epstein's and others' liking'. The plaintiffs further allege that Fekkai 'groomed the victims to look as young as possible under Epstein's direction'.

The complaint also alleges that Epstein regularly brought groups of young women to the salon and had them 'sit on his lap and stroke his hair' while services were being provided. Five of the seven plaintiffs are proceeding anonymously.

The two publicly identified plaintiffs are Kersti Ferguson, a former model, and Audra Christiansen, a former Playboy Playmate. Ferguson alleges that Epstein subjected her to 'gender-motivated violence' over two decades beginning when she was around 16, while Christiansen has separately said she alerted the FBI to Epstein's conduct as early as 2005.

The women are suing under New York's Gender-Motivated Violence Act, which extends the statute of limitations for survivors of gender-based violence and allows certain claims that would otherwise be time-barred to proceed.

The complaint alleges that Fekkai and his salon operated as 'a network to manipulate, coerce and commit acts of gender-motivated violence' against women and girls. The plaintiffs further allege that Fekkai 'enabled Epstein to build a vast and sophisticated sex trafficking operation'.

Alleged Business Ties to Epstein

The lawsuit also alleges that Epstein's patronage and connections benefited Fekkai's business.

The plaintiffs claim Epstein's connections helped place Fekkai's haircare line in retailers including Victoria's Secret, which was then owned by Epstein associate Les Wexner. The complaint alleges: 'Without Epstein, Fekkai Brands would not have grown into a billion-dollar brand.'

The plaintiffs similarly allege that Fekkai's relationship with Epstein enabled the financier to exert control over the women named in the complaint. They claim that, without Fekkai's involvement, Epstein would not have been able to carry out the alleged conduct against the plaintiffs.

The complaint also claims that documents released by the US Department of Justice as part of the so-called 'Epstein Files' contain more than 3,000 documents and emails connected to Fekkai's salon.

Fekkai has denied wrongdoing. His representative previously told CNN that he was 'astonished' by allegations made against him and maintained that he 'did nothing wrong'. Forbes has also reported that Fekkai's representative said the lawsuit does not allege that Fekkai met or physically assaulted the women.

Previous Epstein Allegations and Congressional Scrutiny

The new lawsuit is not the first time Fekkai's name has surfaced in connection with Epstein.

In May 2026, during a closed-door interview with House Republicans, Epstein's former aide Sarah Kellen reportedly accused Fekkai of sexually assaulting her in the early 2000s, according to CNN. Fekkai denied the allegation and maintained that he had done nothing wrong.

The civil lawsuit was filed a day after US Representative Thomas Massie, a Kentucky Republican, publicly named 14 alleged Epstein associates whom he said should be investigated and prosecuted, including Fekkai.

Massie has said he is continuing to collect signatures for a petition intended to force a floor vote on the Epstein Files Transparency Act II.

Fekkai, a French-born stylist, built his reputation by styling high-profile clients before selling his salon business and expanding his name into a global haircare brand.

His name had also appeared in a 2016 deposition connected to Epstein litigation. During the deposition, a witness reportedly testified that Epstein had discussed Fekkai while the two men were in Hawaii and had offered to 'look for girls' for him.

The allegations contained in the new complaint have not been tested in court. Fekkai has denied wrongdoing and, as of publication, had not filed a formal response to the lawsuit.

The case will now proceed in New York Supreme Court, where the plaintiffs' allegations against Fekkai and Coombs will be subject to the court process.