Prominent television doctor Dr. Jen Ashton said she will refuse to appear on CBS as long as the network continues to employ anti-aging influencer Peter Attia, who has come under scrutiny for his past association with convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.
In a video posted on Instagram, Ashton said Atti’s continued presence on the network reflects poorly on CBS and undermines public trust.
“I will not appear on CBS while Peter Attia is still under contract with them,” Ashton said. “I think it reflects badly on me and I feel like the American people deserve more.”
“The Morals Clause Matters”
Ashton, a former medical correspondent for ABC News and Good Morning America, said working for a major network requires compliance with a morality clause β even if no crime has been committed.
“Working for a major news network involves something called a morality clause,” she said. “It doesn’t have to be that you committed a crime. It has to do with your behavior.”
She added that she has seen media professionals disciplined for much less serious behavior.
“I’ve seen people fired or suspended for less heinous acts than 1,700-plus emails with a known and convicted pedophile and criminal,” Ashton said.
Epstein’s emails spark backlash
Attia, 52, faced fresh criticism after court documents released by the US Justice Department on January 30 revealed his friendly correspondence with Epstein between 2015 and 2018.
Emails showed Attia praising Epstein’s “outrageous” lifestyle and controlling Epstein after a 2018 Miami Herald investigation revealed dozens of Epstein’s victims.
Epstein died by suicide in a New York prison in 2019 while awaiting trial on federal sex-trafficking charges.
“Is that what people are supposed to believe?”
Ashton questioned whether Atti’s behavior was up to the standards expected of someone offering medical and health advice to the public.
“Is it admirable, respectful and reflective of someone you want to draw information from that could potentially affect your life, your health and well-being?” she asked.
βIn my book, the answer is no.
She also criticized what she described as a growing tendency to conflate fame with expertise.
“Just because someone is famous doesn’t mean they are credible or trustworthy,” Ashton said.
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Defense of Attia
Attia, a best-selling author and podcaster who promotes longevity-focused health strategies, previously issued a lengthy statement regarding his presence in Epstein’s files, saying he was impressed by Epstein’s influential contacts and that his judgment was clouded at the time.
Epstein had already been convicted of prostitution of a minor seven years before he and Attia met.
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