The backlash against Duchess of York, Sarah Ferguson has been swift and intense. This latest reaction follows the disclosure of an email she sent to the late serial pedophile financier Jeffrey Epstein back in 2011. The letter from dozens of the largest charities has focused its ire on that message. Ferguson has apologized for her previous statements associating Epstein with pedophilia. This shift has led her to distance herself from many nonprofit institutions. One of the best examples has to be Julia’s House, a children’s hospice in Dorset.
In the email dated April 26, 2011, Ferguson acknowledged Epstein’s feelings of betrayal, stating, “I know you feel hellaciously let down by me.” This letter exchange took place only weeks after she had publicly promised to “never associate” with Epstein again. Her determination to stay away was demonstrated, firm, and unapologetic. The email caught Ferguson calling Epstein a “supreme friend.” He stressed Epstein’s steady guidance and open-handedness in support of her, her family, and ideas, projects, institutions she embraced.
It was the right-wing tabloid The Sun that originally splashed the news about the email. They pointed out that Ferguson only retracted after being threatened with legal action by Epstein for defamation. In the context of this pressure, Ferguson’s spokesman stated, “the email was sent in the context of advice Sarah Ferguson was given to try to assuage Jeffrey Epstein and Jeffrey Epstein’s threats.” These rumors and unfounded claims have cast serious doubt on her judgment and motives at the time.
Ferguson has issued public statements condemning paedophilia and apologizing for her friendship with Epstein. “I abhor paedophilia and any sexual abuse of children and know that this was a gigantic error of judgment on my behalf,” she stated. The Duchess has previously admitted to being advised against any further contact with Epstein, saying, “I was advised in no uncertain terms, to have nothing to do with you and to not speak or email you.”
Despite her claims of remorse, Julia’s House recently declared that it would be wrong for Ferguson to remain a patron. The fact was that Ferguson had not been very involved with the charity for many years. She accepted the role in October 2024, having been diagnosed with breast cancer in June 2023. Now a third charity has repudiated her as a patron, terminating their relationship with her. This decision is made against that backdrop.
The repercussions from this incident are a huge change to Ferguson’s overall reaction and reputation. Following Epstein’s death in August 2019 while he awaited trial on sex-trafficking charges, Ferguson’s connections to him have come under increasing scrutiny. Her spokesman underscored the point by noting that she’s sorry for her ties with Epstein. She refuses to back away from her highly public condemnation of him.
As this situation continues to unfold, many are left questioning the implications for Ferguson’s future charitable engagements and public persona.
