Prince Andrew’s former girlfriend Lady Victoria Hervey sparked fury by reacting to Virginia Giuffre’s suicide on Friday by posting “when lies catch up to you there’s no way out.”
According to the Daily Mirror she later appeared to backtrack saying she would “pause my posts on the topic” adding: “Suicide in anyone at anytime is tragic.”
Newsweek contacted Hervey for comment by email on Saturday outside of regular office hours.
What To Know
Giuffre’s family said the 41-year-old mother of three died by suicide at her home in Western Australia on Friday.
According to Giuffre she was groomed by convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein and his accomplice Ghislaine Maxwell and at the age of 17 was forced to have sex several times with British royal Prince Andrew.
The prince consistently denied having sex with Giuffre and in 2022 settled a lawsuit she filed for an undisclosed sum.
Hervey, daughter of the 6th Marquess of Bristol, shared a screenshot of an NBC News article noting Giuffre had died “by suicide” as an Instagram story adding: “When lies catch up to you there’s no way out.”
After this was published a number of other Instagram users hit out at Hervey, with one calling her “absolutely vile” while another said: “Nobody who has died by suicide should be a cause for celebration. What had happened to humanity and basic respect?”
According to the Daily Mirror around two hours later Hervey said on Instagram: “I have taken the decision to pause my posts on the topic of Virginia Giuffre at the this time. Irrespective of circumstances, suicide in anyone at anytime is tragic and in a young mother who has children even more.”
Hervey and Prince Andrew dated briefly in 1999 after he and his former wife Sarah, Duchess of York, were divorced in 1996. She has since become one of Andrew’s most outspoken defenders regarding the allegations made against him by Giuffre.
On Instagram Hervey has an entire story thread dedicated to what she calls “VG lies” in which she posted an artificial intelligence generated mockup of Giuffre wearing a shirt reading “fantasist” and claimed that a photograph of Giuffre with Prince Andrew was faked.
Earlier this month she shared a photograph of herself with FBI Director Kash Patel wearing a red hat emblazoned with the slogan “TRUMP WAS RIGHT ABOUT EVERYTHING.”
What People Are Saying
Giuffre’s family released a statement which said: “There are no words that can express the grave loss we feel today with the passing of our sweet Virginia. She was heroic and will always be remembered for her incredible courage and loving spirit. In the end, the toll of abuse is so heavy that it became unbearable for Virginia to handle its weight. We know that she is with the angels.”
In a statement provided to Newsweek Giuffre’s former spokesperson Dini von Mueffling commented: “Virginia was one of the most extraordinary human beings I have ever had the honor to know. Deeply loving, wise, and funny, she was a beacon to other survivors and victims. She adored her children and many animals. She was always more concerned with me than with herself. I will miss her beyond words. It was the privilege of a lifetime to represent her.”
What Happens Next
Giuffre’s death is being investigated by Western Australia Police who have said the “early indication is the death is not suspicious.”
If you or someone you know is considering suicide, contact the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline by dialing 988, text “988” to the Crisis Text Line at 741741 or go to 988lifeline.org.
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