Sarah Ferguson’s 60 Minutes Australia moment resurfaces as Epstein emails trigger charity fallout

Footage of Sarah Ferguson storming out of a 2011 interview with 60 Minutes Australia has resurfaced online as new details about her correspondence with Jeffrey Epstein come to light and several charities cut ties with the Duchess of York.

The interview, led by host Michael Usher, centered on the Duke of York’s associations and a 2010 News of the World sting in which Ferguson was filmed offering access to Prince Andrew for £500,000. In the released clip, Ferguson can be heard acknowledging a cash arrangement and telling the undercover reporter, “£500,000 when you can, to me, open doors.” When pressed about the money, she replied that she had indeed received cash in the car and had returned it. As the discussion continued, Ferguson appeared frustrated by the line of questioning and requested time away from the interview, saying she would “take five minutes” and ultimately leaving the room before returning to finish the segment.

The resurfacing of the clip comes as new reporting indicates Ferguson sent an April 2011 email to Jeffrey Epstein describing him as a “supreme friend” and detailing a troubling phone interaction, according to reports cited by The Telegraph. James Henderson, Ferguson’s spokesperson at the time, described the email as a response to a “really menacing and nasty” call from Epstein, who Henderson recalled had a “Hannibal Lecter-type voice.” The account helps explain the heightened pressure Ferguson faced in the months after the interview and the broader scrutiny over her associations with Epstein.

In the wake of the email revelations, several charities that have counted Ferguson as a patron or ambassador announced they were ending their affiliations. Julia’s House, a Wiltshire- and Dorset-based children’s hospice, said it would be inappropriate for Ferguson to continue as patron after the Epstein correspondence came to light. Other groups cut ties or reassessed the relationship, including Prevent Breast Cancer, The Natasha Allergy Research Foundation, and the National Foundation for Retired Service Animals. The British Heart Foundation also said Ferguson was no longer serving as an ambassador.

Charity leaders and supporters who had backed Ferguson’s charitable work expressed disappointment at the disclosures but underscored the need for accountability. Virginia Giuffre’s family praised the decisive actions taken by the organizations, emphasizing the broader imperative to address accounts connected to Epstein and those who profited from or enabled his alleged crimes. Giuffre, a key survivor-advocate in Epstein-related litigation, has frequently highlighted the role of institutions in failing to protect vulnerable individuals.

The photos and footage-building narrative around Ferguson’s interview trace to a longer arc of scrutiny surrounding her relationship with Epstein. Epstein’s legal case and his death in 2019 left many questions about the extent of his connections to public figures unresolved. While Ferguson has publicly distanced herself from Epstein in past statements, the new disclosures have intensified scrutiny of her charitable work and her role as a patron or supporter to multiple organizations over the years. The matter also adds a contemporary layer to the cultural conversation around royals and public figures navigating philanthropic roles amid ongoing questions of accountability and legacy.

The episode’s reemergence occurs as coverage of Epstein-related stories continues to influence perceptions of philanthropy and public life. While Ferguson remains a controversial figure in the public eye, the charities’ responses underscore a broader expectation that patrons uphold rigorous standards of conduct and transparency when aligned with charitable causes. As new details emerge, observers will be watching how similar organizations balance loyalty to longstanding benefactors with the imperative to protect beneficiaries and maintain public trust.