From Hero to Scandal Villain: Fergie's Weekend In L.A.

Fergie (not that Fergie, Sarah Ferguson) had quite a time on her recent trip to L.A., from being honored with awards for charity work to getting caught in a majorly embarrassing scandal, all in a weekend's work. The Duchess of York and former wife of Prince Andrew was in town to attend a banquet in which she was being honored with an award for her work in helping raise funds for a children's charity.

Unfortunately, her fund-raising of another kind was what landed her under the scrutiny of the public just hours before her grand honor.  British tabloid News of the World had released a video of an undercover reporter promising Fergie half a million pounds ($724,000) and paying $40,000 in cash in exchange for "access" to her royal ex-husband.  Like something out of a British soap opera, the timing was impeccable.  The freshly disgraced banquet honoree skipped the red carpet and slunk into the Renaissance Hotel in Hollywood through a back door last night to accept her award like dog with its tail between its legs.

As if Fergie was not yet satisfied with the level of disgrace she'd achieved during her short stay here in L.A., she gave the requisite mea culpa statement yesterday:

"I very deeply regret the situation and the embarrassment caused... It is true that my financial situation is under stress. However that is no excuse for a serious lapse in judgment, and I am very sorry that this has happened."

Mmkay, so guess we're not making too much of an effort on that one. At least she was kind of honest about about being embarrassed and sorry about getting caught ("what has happened"), and not so much for selling access to her ex.  Stellar performance this weekend, Fergie. L.A. can't wait for your next visit. Let's try and get us a good British sex scandal next time. And let's try and make it happen at the Peninsula.

[photo via]