Bill Gates Wanted to Look ‘Approachable’ Like Mister Rogers Before Being Swept Into Epstein Scandal

It was not a beautiful day in the neighborhood when Bill Gates‘ name appeared multiple times in the batch of Epstein files released earlier this year.

After the Department of Justice dropped a trove of files on January 30, it was revealed that notes written by late sex offender Jeffrey Epstein imply that the Microsoft cofounder contracted a sexually transmitted disease he wanted to hide from then-wife Melinda French Gates.

In a Saturday, May 30, Wall Street Journal exposé exploring the downfall of the billionaire businessman’s image, sources told the publication th fat the 70-year-old spent years trying to replicate an image that mirrors Fred Rogers‘ TV persona, Mister Rogers.

Bill’s team allegedly used a custom-size mannequin to test out potential outfits, The Wall Street Journal reported (per the New York Post).

The philanthropist apparently had “troves” of neutral-colored sweaters, button-down shirts, pants and his signature glasses, according to the Journal. His look was said to replicate the same “calm and approachable” vibe that Mister Rogers had.

According to the Daily Beast, the Gates Foundation and Gates Ventures reportedly track public opinion of Bill — and have found that negative headlines are linked to his ties to Epstein.

Among the files that were released in January are draft emails that the late sex offender wrote to himself, one of which seemed to be addressed to Bill and written on July 18, 2013.

In it, Epstein — who died by suicide in his prison cell in 2019 at age 66 — seemed to address a fallout between the two. “Dear Bill,” he began. “I cannot believe that you have chosen to both disregard and discard our friendship developed of over [sic] the last 6 years.”

Towards the end of the draft email (it is unclear if another version of it was actually ever sent to Gates), the pedophile appeared to make claims about the businessman’s health.

“TO add insult to the injury you then subsequently with tears in your eyes, implore me to please delete the emails regarding your std, your request that I provide you antibiotics that you can surreptitiously give to Melinda, and the description of your penis,” it read.

A spokesperson for Bill called the claims from Epstein “absolutely absurd and completely false,” according to multiple reports around the time of the release.

Melinda, who filed for divorce in 2021 after 27 years of marriage, addressed the mentions of her ex-husband in the Epstein files during the February 3 episode of Wild Card with Rachel Martin and NPR.

She said that the people mentioned, including her ex-husband, in the Epstein files “need to answer to those” questions about the scandal that “remain” unanswered.