Virginia Giuffre, known for her accusations against Prince Andrew and the late Jeffrey Epstein, tragically died by suicide at the age of 41, as confirmed by her family. Giuffre was a prominent figure in the fight against sexual abuse, having publicly accused Epstein and his associate, Ghislaine Maxwell, of trafficking her to the Duke of York when she was just 17 years old. Prince Andrew has consistently denied these allegations.
A legacy of advocacy
In a heartfelt statement released on Friday, her relatives described Giuffre as a “fierce warrior in the fight against sexual abuse,” highlighting the immense toll that her experiences had on her mental health. They expressed that, “She lost her life to suicide, after being a lifelong victim of sexual abuse and sex trafficking.” Giuffre’s impact on other survivors was emphasized, as her family referred to her as “the light that lifted so many survivors.”
Giuffre was found unresponsive at her farm in Western Australia, with local police confirming that they were called to the residence in Neergabby on Friday night. An investigation is currently underway, although preliminary reports suggest that her death is not suspicious.
Personal struggles and public fight
Originally from the United States, Giuffre had been residing in North Perth with her husband, Robert, and their three children. However, reports indicated that the couple had recently separated after 22 years of marriage. Just three weeks prior to her death, Giuffre had shared on Instagram that she had sustained serious injuries in a car accident, an event her family stated she had not meant to disclose publicly. Local authorities later contested the severity of the incident.
Dini von Mueffling, Giuffre’s long-time spokesperson, paid tribute to her, calling her “one of the most extraordinary human beings I have ever had the honour to know.” Von Mueffling described Giuffre as a “beacon to other survivors and victims,” emphasizing the privilege it was to represent her. After bringing her allegations to light, Giuffre became a notable advocate for survivors, aligning closely with the Me Too movement.
Giuffre’s allegations against Epstein and Maxwell alleged that they facilitated her trafficking to Prince Andrew at a young age. In 2022, Prince Andrew reached an out-of-court settlement with her, which included a statement of regret regarding his past association with Epstein but did not include an admission of wrongdoing. Giuffre has long maintained that she was a victim of sex trafficking as a teenager, having met Maxwell in 2000 before being introduced to Epstein, leading to years of alleged abuse.
Epstein, who was awaiting trial on sex trafficking charges, died by suicide in prison in 2019. He had previously faced a conviction in 2008 for soliciting prostitution from a minor. Maxwell was sentenced to 20 years in prison for her involvement in Epstein’s trafficking operations.
If you or someone you know is in crisis, resources are available to provide support. In the UK, you can access assistance through the BBC Action Line. In the US, the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline can be reached at 1-800-273-8255 or by texting HOME to 741741. Additional support is available in both the US and Canada by dialing 988, and young people can contact Kids Help Phone at 1-800-668-6868.