Sarah Ferguson is believed to have been offered multiple opportunities to tell her side of the story, with the potential for a six-figure payout
Sarah Ferguson has kept a low profile in recent months (Image: Chris Day/The Commercial Appeal / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images)
Sarah Ferguson is reportedly being flooded with offers for a tell-all interview, but a PR expert believes such a move could make matters worse. According to celebrity PR specialist Kayley Cornelius, the 66-year-old should think twice about the payday to avoid repeating the fallout from her ex-husband Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor‘s infamous Newsnight interview.
The former Duchess of York has kept a low profile since alleged emails between her and convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein were referenced in the Epstein files. She was seen in Austria on April 16 for the first time in seven months and is now said to be seeking advice from friends about her next steps.
Sarah is thought to have been offered numerous opportunities to share her side of the story but has declined, despite the potential possibility of a six-figure payday.
The PR expert warns that accepting such an offer could ultimately backfire – as many say was the case with Andrew.
In 2019, the former prince was questioned over his friendship with Epstein and allegations against him, which he has consistently denied. The interview was widely regarded as a public relations disaster and, amid ongoing controversy, he has since stepped back from royal duties and had his titles removed.
Kayleigh suggested that if Sarah were to speak publicly, it could be seen as a “last-ditch attempt to save her reputation while also cashing in while she can”.
She added: “The only price at play here is emotional, and could lie in her attempts to make things right for Beatrice and Eugenie, as they have found themselves embroiled in the scandal as a result.
“She can do the interview, but I’d say she can’t expect to have much backing. In an age where audiences are more critical than ever and aware of how media productions operate, including the editorial control involved in high-profile interviews, anything she says is likely to face scrutiny.”
While Sarah has weathered controversies in the past, the PR expert believes this situation is different.
“I believe there’s very little she can say or do at this stage that would truly shift public sentiment,” she added. “There’s no amount of crisis PR that can fully save her now, but what she can do is try to redirect attention and quietly rebuild, which may well be her strategy if she chooses not to speak.”
She also pointed to the fallout from Andrew’s Newsnight interview as a warning sign. “I’d be surprised if she’s being advised to do this professionally. To me, it sounds like a final cash grab, while potentially trying to divert attention away from herself and her family,” she added.
Kayleigh went on to say it’s likely Sarah has been approached with “a lucrative offer” for her story, potentially ranging from tens of thousands to six-figure sums, depending on the level of detail and any evidence provided.
“If she does choose to talk, she may not hold back, and things could become messy very quickly,” she said.
Being named in the Epstein files does not imply wrongdoing. A representative for Sarah previously said of some of the emails: “The Duchess spoke of her regret about her association with Epstein many years ago, and as they have always been, her first thoughts are with his victims.
“Like many people, she was taken in by his lies. As soon as she was aware of the extent of the allegations against him, she not only cut off contact but condemned him publicly, to the extent that he was then said to have threatened to sue her for defamation for associating him with paedophilia.”
