Sarah Ferguson, the Duchess of York, recently made headlines for her former associations with Jeffrey Epstein. This concern was magnified after she officially announced a £15,000 payment to bring her debts into compliance. Her own email apology to Epstein, sent in 2011, has recently thrust this disturbing tie between her and the infamous sex trafficker back into the spotlight. This announcement follows her high-profile denunciation of him.
In March 2011 Ferguson announced in public that he was ending his business relationship with Epstein. She described her acceptance of his financial support as a “horrible, horrible lapse of judgment.” We are clear that she condemned paedophilia in unequivocal terms, recognised the seriousness of her error and apologised. This unusual public condemnation came only after Epstein’s character had been thoroughly destroyed, his moral standing obliterated by a momentous cascade of sex offender allegations.
After Ferguson’s remarks, Epstein is said to have gone into a furious tirade at the very mention of being referred to as a paedophile. Instead, he tortured her with a haunting pre-recorded phone call. On the call, Cipriano threatened legal action and promised to “destroy” the York family. That’s the account of an epic 2012 conference call on market share melts by James Henderson, Ferguson’s communications director at that time.
“He had a Hannibal Lecter-type voice. It was very cold and calm and really menacing and nasty.” – James Henderson
Henderson characterized the whole conversation as “just really menacing and nasty,” saying that Epstein’s threats were “very specific. He stated, “He said he would destroy the York family and he was quite clear on that. He said he would destroy me.”
After this distressing exchange, Ferguson felt compelled to craft a rare email to her boss – Epstein – in April 2011, explaining and apologizing for her public statements. In that email, she referred to him as her “supreme friend.” In her speech, she called him her “constant, faithful, and exalted friend.” Unfortunately for Ferguson, this email precipitated a massive outpouring of backlash against Ferguson.
The consequences from the release of this apology were immediate. Multiple charities, including the Teenage Cancer Trust, cut their ties with Ferguson once the email was public knowledge. Her long-standing, close association with Epstein has called into serious question her judgment and integrity.
“People don’t understand how terrible Epstein was.” – James Henderson
Epstein’s infamy only increased until his death in August 2019, while awaiting trial on sex-trafficking charges. His untimely passing hasn’t stopped the public from learning about his relationships with other influential people, including Ferguson.
Ferguson has consistently maintained her stance against child sexual abuse, stating, “I abhor paedophilia and any sexual abuse of children and know that this was a gigantic error of judgment on my behalf.” Her prior acceptance of $1.2 million from Epstein has hung over her public image like a black cloud. Plus, her later apology only served to cast a wider shadow.
The recent revelations about the nature of Sarah Ferguson’s connection to Jeffrey Epstein remind us of the difficult balance between informed personal connections and judged public perceptions. As the story develops, it shows how those connections have long term effects. These connections serve an important purpose, acting as both a public relations buffer and a shield against a lack of accountability.