Sarah Ferguson, commonly known as Fergie, expressed regret to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein for publicly distancing herself from him and referred to him as a close associate after he threatened legal action against her, her representative confirmed. The communication, dated April 26, 2011, from the former wife of the Duke of York, came shortly following her statement to the media where she vowed to sever ties with Epstein.
Reports disclosed an email revealed by The Sun newspaper, where the duchess offered a humble apology to Epstein for connecting him with pedophilia in the public eye, praising him as a stalwart and benevolent individual. A spokesperson clarified that the message was prompted by advice given to Ferguson to mitigate Epstein’s threats.
In a separate interview with the Evening Standard in March 2011, the duchess confessed to accepting £15,000 from Epstein, acknowledging it as a grave error in judgment. She strongly condemned pedophilia and assured to repay the money while affirming her decision to cut all future associations with Jeffrey Epstein.
Allegedly, shortly after her public statement, the duchess was seen sending an email to Epstein, expressing her fear and apologizing for her actions, stating that she was advised to maintain distance from him for the sake of all parties involved, including her ex-husband, Prince Andrew.
According to the duchess’s spokesperson, Epstein had threatened legal action against Ferguson for defamation due to her previous association with him. The representative emphasized that the duchess was deeply remorseful for her past ties with Epstein and stood in solidarity with his victims, having distanced herself from him upon learning the severity of the allegations.
Jeffrey Epstein, awaiting trial on sex-trafficking charges, was found dead in his prison cell in Manhattan in August 2019, with the cause of death ruled as suicide.