Sarah Ferguson, the former Duchess of York, has faced a significant setback in her American ambitions after a reported £1.5 million book deal was rejected by US publishers. Insiders have accused the 66-year-old of attempting to "cash in on the Epstein scandal," which has deeply impacted her family due to her ex-husband Prince Andrew's ties to the late financier Jeffrey Epstein.
Failed Book Deal and Accusations
Hollywood sources reveal that Ferguson recently failed to secure a lucrative book deal in the United States, with major publishing houses showing no interest in her plans for a tell-all memoir. She had reportedly hoped for an advance of around $2 million (£1.49 million), but instead received a string of rejections and, in some cases, no response at all.
A source told the Sunday Express, "It seems no one is remotely interested in being seen to be enabling her to cash in on the Epstein scandal that has torn her family apart and ruined her ex-husband." The insider added that this failure has likely "killed off" any notion of keeping her "American dream" alive, describing her as commercially becoming a "pariah."
Background and Previous Success
Sarah Ferguson previously enjoyed a successful career in the United States as a media personality, including work for NBC’s Today show, appearances on The View, and TV advertisements for Weight Watchers. She also authored several children's books, such as the Budgie the Little Helicopter series and the picture book Tea for Ruby.
Before the Epstein scandal, she made regular appearances on US television, but her reputation has since suffered. The Mirror has approached her US representatives for comment on the failed book deal, but no response has been reported.
Royal Author's Perspective
Royal author Ingrid Seward, who first met Ferguson over 40 years ago, recently told the Mirror that she was not surprised by mentions of the ex-Duchess's financial dealings in recently released Epstein files. Seward attributed this to Ferguson's "extravagant" lifestyle.
She said, "She has a massively endearing type of personality. It's a tragedy that her bad side has got the stronger hold over her than her good side. So the bad side is the greed, the stupidity and obsessively wanting things. It’s almost like a shopaholic." Seward highlighted examples of this extravagance, noting that Royal Lodge was always filled with expensive flower arrangements, especially during the Covid pandemic.
This failed book deal marks a stark contrast to Ferguson's earlier successes and underscores the ongoing fallout from the Epstein scandal on her public image and financial prospects.
