Failed attempt at new image
Jeffrey Epstein went to a New York City publicist a few years ago begging for help with his image — telling the society-page ace, “I don’t want ‘billionaire pervert’ to be the first line of my obituary.”
The publicist, R. Couri Hay, recounted the bizarre meeting and a later one with Epstein to The Post on Tuesday, saying he had plenty of suggestions to try to help the convicted pedophile’s image.
Hay said he told Epstein he could go to a mental-health facility for a year or live with a life coach who addresses sex addiction.
Then there was the possibility of signing Warren Buffett’s and Bill and Melinda Gates’ Giving Pledge, which would require Epstein to donate most of his millions of dollars to charity.
Epstein should even consider meeting Pope Francis as a way to show the public he was seeking forgiveness, Hay said he told him.
“He listened to everything,” with little reaction, Hay said. “Jeffrey has a poker face.’’
The only thing that Epstein showed any emotion over was Hay’s price, the publicist said, noting that the perv balked.
But Hay, 70, said that even he knew that his suggestions would never be enough to reform Epstein in the public’s eye.
“I was giving a theoretical plan for someone who is clearly guilty,” Hay said.
“I told Jeffrey the only person who could forgive him is God. I also suggested he go to his rabbi.
“Now he doesn’t need to call me. He needs to call the greatest lawyer in the world.