Several charities have severed their ties with Sarah Ferguson, Duchess of York, following claims that she described the late sex offender Jeffrey Epstein as a “supreme friend” in a 2011 email. Despite Ferguson’s previous public declaration of distancing herself from Epstein, she reportedly sent the email weeks after the interview, apologizing for her past statements and acknowledging his steadfast support to her and her family.
Back in 2008, Jeffrey Epstein pleaded guilty to a state prostitution charge in Florida and was registered as a sex offender. Ferguson had apparently reached out to him in an attempt to avoid potential legal action for defamation.
The response from charities has been swift. At least five organizations, where Ferguson held a patron role, have ended their association with her. Nadim and Tanya Ednan-Laperouse, founders of the Natasha Allergy Research Foundation, stated their disturbance over the correspondence and concluded that further association with Ferguson would be inappropriate.
Ferguson’s former husband, Prince Andrew, similarly faced a significant fallout from his friendship with Epstein. In 2022, Prince Andrew was stripped of most of his titles and relieved from his royal duties due to his ties with the discredited financier, resulting in his ostracization by both businesses and charities.
This development underscores the lasting impact Epstein’s legacy continues to have on those who were closely linked to him, highlighting the challenges faced by public figures in managing their associations and reputations.