Longevity Influencer Under Scrutiny for Controversial Podcast Comments
Dr. Peter Attia, known for his insights into longevity, stirred controversy on his health podcast by making unsettling remarks about women’s sexuality, including references to sexual assault. This came just weeks before emails were revealed that highlighted his connections to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.
On the November 2 episode of “The Drive,” Attia discussed young women’s sexual experiences while interviewing gynecologist Sally Greenwald. He pondered how early negative sexual encounters could impact a woman’s ability to lead a healthy sex life later on. “To what extent do adverse sexual experiences early in a woman’s life negatively impact her ability to have a healthy sex life later in life?” Attia, 52, questioned.
He continued, mentioning that while sexual assault is the most severe example of adverse experiences, even encounters that might be seen as less damaging can have lasting effects. Attia reflected on his own experience, sharing a memory of a difficult first sexual encounter, saying, “I was consenting, but it was terrible.”
The podcast took on a more troubling tone as Attia’s name emerged over 1,700 times in the recently released Epstein files. In one email from 2015, he expressed concern about being associated with Epstein’s controversial past, stating, “What’s the biggest problem with being friends with you? The life you led is so outrageous, yet I can’t tell anyone…”
Attia, who holds a medical degree from Stanford, also encountered awkward moments during the episode, such as when Greenwald highlighted that women of all ages could benefit from lubrication during sex. Attia expressed surprise at this notion, indicating a lack of understanding about the topic. Despite Greenwald’s many explanations, he repeatedly questioned if young women needed lubrication.
In a bizarre twist, Greenwald brought a small anatomical model as a gift for Attia, which he humorously promised to display on his desk. However, he later complained about the lack of visual aids related to sex toys, stating, “That may have been a strategic mistake.” His ongoing curiosity about how pleasure products could affect male partners also stood out, as he wondered if they could potentially hinder male enjoyment.
The episode continued with Attia asking fundamental questions about female anatomy aimed at educating his male audience, revealing his apparent fixation on women’s pleasure in relation to men.
As the fallout from Epstein’s emails continued, Attia issued an apology and resigned from his role as chief scientific officer for the wellness brand David’s Protein. His position at CBS News, where he had just become a contributor, remains uncertain as network executives deliberate on whether to part ways with him. Some sources indicated that bari Weiss, the editor-in-chief, was initially hesitant to take drastic measures, given her stance on cancel culture.
