Top 10 Shocking Reveals in Victoria's Secret: Angels and Demons

One of the main investigations of the docuseries is the relationship between businessman Les Wexner and convicted felon Jeffrey Epstein. Epstein operated as Wexner’s financial manager for more than twenty years. The two men were unusually close, and Epstein acquired much of Wexner’s wealth and property over the course of their relationship. Epstein was never technically employed by Bath and Body Works, Inc nor Victoria’s Secret, but he had unprecedented power in Wexner’s business and personal affairs. This was largely due to the power of attorney that Wexner signed over to Epstein, a move which was highly unusual. Considering the billionaire’s intelligence and tendencies to micromanage, his decision to give so much unchecked power to Epstein is not only unprecedented, it’s perplexing.

While Wexner hasn’t been accused of any misconduct himself, it’s hard to believe he didn’t have some knowledge of any nefarious activity going on. One of Epstein’s properties happened to be Wexner’s guest house in New Albany, Ohio. In the summer of 1996, the financier invited a young artist named Maria Farmer to stay in his house on the Wexner property, but the visit ended poorly for Farmer. She accused Epstein and his associate Ghislaine Maxwell of sexual assault. After barricading herself in her room, Farmer claims she was held captive on the property despite calls to 911 and the police. In fact, the police were already on site guarding the Wexner property line, but were reportedly unwilling to help Farmer.

In the wake of the MeToo movement, multiple allegations of sexual misconduct were made against people who worked for Victoria’s Secret. One man in particular, former Chief Marketing Officer Ed Razek, has been the subject of a lot of criticism. Razek is accused of making sexist and fatphobic comments, creating a culture of misogyny within Wexner’s company. His assistant supposedly cracked jokes about how many harassment complaints were made against him. Razek eventually left the company after Vogue reported on his sexist and transphobic standards. However, the amount of complaints he racked up during his time at Victoria’s Secret indicates a greater culture of complicity within the company.

Similarly to the apparent culture of complicity at Victoria’s Secret, Epstein’s network of powerful people indicates a similar culture among the elite. Epstein was associated with business executives, politicians, and even royalty. Considering the extent of Epstein’s crimes, it’s hard to believe that none of the powerful people around him knew something was off. In fact, Cindy McCain admitted she and others were aware of his misdeeds. The wife of late politician John McCain claims there was nothing they could do to stop Epstein, but her comment reveals that those associated with him chose to turn a blind eye.

While Epstein’s arrest in 2019 sparked societal outrage in the post MeToo era, his arrest in 2006 for similar charges gained little attention. He was convicted of procuring a minor for prostitution and of soliciting a prostitute, but faced a little more than a year in prison. The Oregon Attorney’s general investigation found evidence that indicates Epstein’s lawyers received voluntary help from Wexner’s Company, then known as L Brands. Without being subpoenaed, the company handed over records on one of the felon’s accusers who had worked for Victoria’s Secret. Wexner’s attorneys have called these allegations false. In any case, after his first conviction, Epstein’s reputation stayed pretty much intact.

Around the time of Epstein’s case in 2006, a charitable fund was opened with Les Wexner’s wife Abigail as president. The fund was under the initials YLK, the same as Abigail’s father Yehuda L. Koppel. In 2019, it was discovered that more than $46 million had been placed in the fund by Epstein. It begs the question: why would a billionaire take money from a convicted felon? Wexner claims the money was stolen from him by Epstein, but then why wouldn’t the CEO have pursued legal action? The whole thing is strange, but the main takeaway is that Epstein and Wexner continued to be financially involved after the offender was convicted.

As early as 1996, it was reported that Jeffrey Epstein was constantly recording inside his properties. Cameras were placed in bedrooms and bathrooms, violating a wide variety of intimate moments. Assuming he was taping while conducting illegal activities, it’s possible that others who participated in Epstein’s misdeeds were caught on camera. It suggests that the felon used his trafficking business to collect blackmail on influential people. Although it’s unknown where the material is today, a former sheriff’s officer named John Mark Dougan claimed to have 700 CDs full of evidence before escaping to Russia. With potential ties to Russian president Vladimir Putin, Epstein’s sphere of influence is seemingly never ending.

Speaking of spheres of influence, Wexner and Epstein may have had connections to Intelligence. In the mid 1990s, Wexner assisted in relocating Southern Air Transport from Miami to Columbus, Ohio. The cargo airline had previously been owned by the CIA and played a key part in the Iran-Contra scandal. Epstein had spent a considerable amount of time with then-president Bill Clinton just before the airline’s relocation. In addition to having close relationships with American presidents, Epstein also boasted of relations with the CIA. Both men were connected to the state of Israel, and Abigail Wexner’s father was one of the founding figures. With so many connections but little concrete evidence, the extent of either man’s relationship with Intelligence is unknown to the public.

A master networker, Epstein wormed his way into the lives of the rich and powerful. In his pursuit of Les Wexner, the financier caused a division between the CEO and his own mother. While Wexner had never felt greatly supported by his father, he had historically had a good relationship with his mother, Bella. The two had offices across from each other and were even referred to as married. When Bella briefly fell ill, Epstein took her spot on the Wexner Foundation Board. He refused to relinquish the seat back to her once Bella recovered, and Les did nothing to resolve the following lawsuit. The incident ended up causing a rift between mother and son.

Before we unveil our top pick, here are a few honorable mentions.

Heidi Klum Always Wanted the Biggest Wings, “Inventing Victoria”
For Victoria’s Secret Angels, Size Does Matter

Victoria Stewart White Is a Fictional Person, “Inventing Victoria”
Internal Videos Reveal Victoria’s Secret Identity

Les Wexner Referenced Playboy Magazine, “The Secret Friend”
The Retail Mogul Basically Requested Models That Could Pass as Playboy Bunnies

Federal Agents May Have Known About Epstein's Fate in Prison, “Tarnished Angels”
Even Those Who Don’t Believe in Conspiracies Have to Admit: Something’s Off

Harvey Weinstein & Ed Razek Worked Together on the 2000 Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show, “Tarnished Angels”
Birds of a Feather Flock Together

As was mentioned earlier in our list, Epstein never technically worked for Victoria’s Secret or its parent company. However, he claimed association with the lingerie brand in order to lure in young women. Incidents of this happening were reported to Wexner in 1993. The CEO claims to have forbidden Epstein from ever doing so again. However, in 1997 actress Alicia Arden agreed to a meeting in Epstein’s hotel room under the impression it would land her in the Victoria’s Secret Catalog. Instead of booking a gig, Arden filed a sexual battery report. The docuseries includes an audio recording Arden left for her friend after the incident. Whether or not Wexner told him to stop, Epstein continued to use the Victoria’s Secret brand for his misdeeds.