Ricci posted her criticism on Instagram, drawing attention to Kelly’s remarks that focused on distinctions between the ages of the disgraced financier’s victims.
The former child actress, who is now known for her role in Showtime hit “Yellowjackets,” questioned the framing of Epstein’s conduct during a segment on Kelly’s podcast.
Ricci, 45, shared screenshots that appeared to originate from Instagram user betches_news, highlighting podcast excerpts in which Kelly compared the ages of Epstein’s victims.
One slide featured the line: “There’s definitely a difference between a 5-year-old and a 15-year-old. But that difference is not ‘whether or not sleeping with them makes you a pedophile.'”
"There's definitely a difference between a 5-year-old and a 15-year-old. But that difference is not 'whether or not sleeping with them makes you a pedophile." – Christina Ricci https://t.co/M5lsKa2wZ5 pic.twitter.com/8SDsF9gPJR
— Maria E. (@legomars) November 16, 2025
Another screenshot captured Kelly’s interview with conservative journalist Batya Ungar-Sargon, where Kelly discussed the House Oversight Committee’s release of Epstein-related emails.
Ricci reacted strongly to the comments, posting the message: “This woman is a danger to children.”
During the podcast episode, Kelly stated that she had been told by a close source that Epstein preferred what she described as the “barely legal type” and that he was, in that source’s view, not a pedophile.
Megyn Kelly: "I know somebody very close to this case…Jeffrey Epstein, in this person's view, was not a pedophile…He was into the barely legal type, like he liked 15 year old girls…He wasn't into like 8 year olds…There's a difference between a 15 year old and a 5 year old." pic.twitter.com/a7wmT3BRJU
— Republican Accountability (@AccountableGOP) November 13, 2025
“I do know somebody very, very close to this case, who is in a position to know virtually everything,” Kelly said during her eponymous show.
“Not everything but virtually everything – and this person has told me, from the start, years and years ago, that Jeffrey Epstein, in this person’s view, was not a pedophile.”
Well said, Christina Ricci. pic.twitter.com/snUT0dvASS
— Michael @ 49316 (@Michael49316) November 16, 2025
She explained that the remarks came from someone who had been “there for a lot of this.”
According to Kelly, that person claimed Epstein was someone who “liked 15-year-old girls.”
Kelly acknowledged the subject matter as “disgusting” and indicated she was not making excuses, but said she believed she was outlining distinctions presented to her.
“I’m just giving you facts, that he wasn’t into, like, 8-year-olds,” she said.
She noted that Epstein allegedly preferred teens who appeared younger to outsiders while still looking old enough to seem legal.
The former Fox News host maintained she had been “reliably told” these points until former Attorney General Pam Bondi stated that federal investigators were reviewing a large amount of video showing Epstein and minors earlier in the year.
Kelly noted that Bondi “never clarified” her comments and said she was unsure what was accurate.
“I don’t know whether it’s true,” she added. “I have to be honest, I don’t really trust Pam Bondi’s word on the Epstein matters anymore.”
Kelly added that no one had publicly claimed to have been under the age of ten or even under fourteen when initially encountered by Epstein. She reiterated that she viewed the topic as deeply unpleasant.
“Every time we start talking about Epstein, it makes your skin crawl,” she said.
Court records from Epstein’s 2019 charges alleged that his victims were as young as fourteen and that he knowingly pursued minors.
He was later found hanging in his New York jail cell while awaiting trial, with the death ruled a suicide.
Megyn Kelly explains the Democrat “leaked” Epstein emails that they are trying to SMEAR Trump with. pic.twitter.com/RLFkHCb0v4
— Mila Joy (@MilaLovesJoe) November 13, 2025
Kelly’s contentious remarks aired as the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform released tens of thousands of pages of documents tied to Epstein’s estate.
Kelly told Ungar-Sargon that the newly released emails “don’t sound good” for President Donald Trump and suggested the administration could have preemptively released them.
She said the messages included references from Epstein over a span of fifteen years and statements where Epstein claimed to have photos of Trump with bikini clad girls.
“I concede that they sound bad,” she said, adding that the leak could be seen as “basically kind of a middle finger” to Trump.
She said that, from a political perspective, Democrats would likely seize on the talking points.
Kelly questioned the administration’s strategy, saying Trump could have avoided the current scrutiny by releasing the documents independently.
“Now he’s in the position of being singled out as the only one, allegedly, as opposed to one of a slew of names,” she said.
She described it as a “self-inflicted wound” that she argued could have been avoided.
The public debate surrounding Kelly’s commentary escalated when “Saturday Night Live” parodied the uproar during its cold open.
The sketch depicted a press briefing with an impersonation of White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt fielding questions about Trump’s connection to Epstein.
Moments later, a performer portraying Trump stepped in to answer questions.
In the skit, the Trump character referenced Kelly’s remarks. “I thought Megyn Kelly made a terrific point this week, she said Epstein’s not a pedophile,” the actor remarked.
“Terrific thing to just say out of nowhere. Great Job Megyn, we love Megyn, they should put her back on TV. Legalize Megyn!”