Sarah Ferguson's Dramatic TV Interview Walkout Over Cash-for-Access Scandal
This is the shocking moment Sarah Ferguson, the former Duchess of York, stormed out of a television interview after being confronted with questions about her offering 'cash-for-access' to her former husband, Prince Andrew. The explosive incident occurred during a 2011 interview with 60 Minutes Australia host Michael Usher, which has resurfaced amid ongoing controversies.
The Explosive Interview Confrontation
Sarah Ferguson, then 66, sat down for what would become a highly contentious interview with journalist Michael Usher. The tension escalated when Usher presented footage from the now-defunct News of the World newspaper, showing Ferguson offering access to Prince Andrew for £500,000 to an undercover reporter posing as an Indian businessman in May 2010.
In the footage, Ferguson is clearly heard saying: '£500,000 when you can, to me, open doors.' When pressed by Usher about whether she took the money, Ferguson admitted: 'Absolutely yes, it was given to me and I got it in the car and then returned it straight away.'
The Walkout and Return
As the questioning continued, Ferguson became visibly frustrated, telling Usher: 'Don't try and trick me now because I am not going to play this game. Delete that bit. I don't to go down this route.' After consulting with her Australian agent John Scott off-camera, Ferguson declared she needed a break, stating: 'I am going to take five minutes,' before standing up and walking out of the interview.
Though she later returned to complete the interview, the atmosphere remained frosty. Ferguson reflected on the scandal during the resumed conversation, saying: 'I was very grateful for being in that position in a way because when I hit rock bottom it woke me up.'
Aftermath and Recent Revelations
The interview footage was reshared by 60 Minutes Australia on Instagram in September 2024 after emails emerged showing Ferguson had referred to convicted paedophile Jeffrey Epstein as a 'supreme friend.' This revelation led several charities, including the Teenage Cancer Trust, to sever ties with Ferguson after 35 years of patronage.
In a December 2024 radio interview, Michael Usher recalled the awkward interaction, revealing: 'I had to call her Duchess. She wouldn't let me call her Sarah, lots and lots of airs and graces.' He described how Ferguson later approached him barefoot on the lawn after the interview, asking: 'Michael, how was that?'
Controversial Epstein Connections
Newly released emails show Ferguson maintained contact with Jeffrey Epstein after his release from prison for sex offences against children. Shockingly, she took her daughters Princesses Beatrice and Eugenie to lunch with Epstein just five days after his release from prison.
Additional emails reveal Princess Beatrice, then 22, advised her mother on how to publicly backtrack after Ferguson upset Epstein by calling him a paedophile. According to the correspondence, Beatrice agreed it was important to brief the press that Epstein had 'done his penance' in prison.
Financial Struggles and Comeback Plans
Emails from 2010 suggest Ferguson was considering bankruptcy when her finances were in peril. An email to Epstein referenced a meeting at Royal Lodge where 'they might suggest her going bankrupt.' Epstein advised an associate to attend, warning: 'otherwise, she will go after you.'
Despite these controversies, Ferguson is reportedly plotting a return to public life. Sources indicate she has told friends: 'I need to get back to work. I need money.' She has been spending time with her youngest daughter Princess Eugenie in locations including the French Alps, United Arab Emirates, and Doha, Qatar.
Ongoing Royal Controversies
The latest release of Epstein files has led to police investigating allegations that Prince Andrew shared confidential reports from his role as UK trade envoy with Epstein. Emails appear to show the former duke sharing reports of official visits to Hong Kong, Vietnam, and Singapore.
Unlike her ex-husband, Ferguson has not been accused of any criminal activity, though Andrew has consistently denied any wrongdoing. The former Duchess's representative in Australia claimed the 60 Minutes interview footage was cynically taken out of context, calling it 'entrapment,' while producers maintained Ferguson had agreed to discuss the issue.
