David Copperfield's Epstein Ties Spark Calls to End MGM Show

Dr. Annelies De Vos · 2026-02-03

Let's talk about something that's been brewing in Las Vegas for a while now. It's uncomfortable, sure, but it's important. The name David Copperfield, once synonymous with magic and wonder, keeps popping up in the worst possible context. And the latest document release has turned a simmering issue into a full-blown public outcry. Last year, when those initial Epstein files dropped, Copperfield's name appearing was a shock. It felt like a distant, grim footnote. But now? New FBI memos lay it out pretty clearly. The federal agency believed the magician had a, and I'm quoting here, a "very close relationship" with Jeffrey Epstein. That's not casual acquaintance language. That's the kind of phrasing that makes you sit up straight. ### The Growing List of Allegations So, what's in these new documents? They're not vague. Seattle FBI agents flagged their concerns to Miami colleagues. They pointed to two witnesses in the Epstein case who were also named in what agents called Copperfield's "business list." The chilling description? That list "appears to be a compilation of females that he targeted for sexual conquest." Another memo goes further. It claims the FBI investigation showed Copperfield trained his staff to pick out young women—teens to early twenties—from his audience. They'd be separated from their groups and brought backstage. Think about that for a second. It transforms a stage show into something far more sinister. This isn't just about guilt by association anymore. It's about specific, documented patterns of behavior that are now under an FBI microscope. And it builds on last year's Guardian report where 16 women came forward with claims spanning decades. ### The Backlash Hits the Strip Naturally, people are asking questions. Loudly. The spotlight is now firmly on MGM Resorts International. Copperfield still performs his regular show at the MGM Grand. In light of these revelations, that fact is becoming harder for many to stomach. Local Vegas voices like Vital Vegas led the charge online, tagging both MGM and the Nevada Gaming Control Board. The message was blunt: cancel the show. The sentiment is spreading. When a venue's headliner is entangled in allegations this severe, it becomes a reputational issue for the entire resort—and by extension, the regulators who oversee it. Here's what the public is grappling with: - A direct FBI link between Copperfield and a convicted sex trafficker - Multiple, decades-spanning allegations of misconduct - Operational details that suggest predatory patterns It creates a perfect storm of bad optics and ethical dilemmas. For an industry built on entertainment and escape, this is the kind of anchor that drags everything down. ### Where Does This Leave Us? So, where do we go from here? The calls for MGM to act aren't just coming from social media. They're a reflection of a broader unease. When you connect the dots—the Epstein friendship, the FBI memos, the accusers' stories—it paints a picture that's tough to ignore. The Nevada Gaming Control Board has a mandate to protect the integrity of the state's biggest industry. Part of that integrity is surely about who gets to be a marquee name on the Strip. This isn't a minor scandal; it's a fundamental question about the values a city wants to project to the world. Magic is supposed to be about illusion. But there's nothing illusory about FBI documents or the testimonies of multiple women. The real trick now is whether Las Vegas's institutions will make this problem disappear, or finally address it head-on. The audience is watching, and their patience for this particular act seems to be running out.