The man known online as “Palm Beach Pete” is now speaking for himself—and shutting down speculation in blunt terms.
In a newly launched Instagram account, the Florida resident identified only as Peter addressed the viral moment directly, telling viewers: “I’m so not Jeffrey Epstein. I’m just me being me…he’s a very bad person. And he is dead.”
The video, posted on March 20, marks the first time the lookalike has publicly responded since clips of him driving a convertible through South Florida went viral on social media.
In the reel, Pete leans into the surreal attention with a casual rundown of his day—“I’m gonna play some tennis… go into town, and have lunch”—while repeatedly emphasizing that he has no connection to Epstein.
He also thanked users who pushed back on the theory, calling the situation “a crazy phenomenon that has went really viral.”
Pete expanded on the experience during an appearance on The Nicky Gordo Show, describing how quickly the moment escalated.
“I’m minding my own business driving down to a place in town,” he said, “and the next thing you know, hundreds of millions of views.”
While acknowledging the resemblance, he dismissed deeper theories, attributing the reaction to people’s “vivid imaginations.”
Online, users quickly connected his appearance to Jeffrey Epstein, the financier whose 2019 death in federal custody has remained a subject of intense public interest. The nickname “Palm Beach Pete” took off as the clip circulated across platforms.
Addressing those comparisons directly, Pete made clear he wants distance from the association. “I could be the guy, but I’m not the guy,” he said on the podcast, adding that he has “nothing to do with Jeffrey Epstein” and describing him as “such a vile human being.”
