Yanks Aren't Buying Fergie's Sob Story

Boo hoo. Poor little used-to-be-rich duchess has a sob story about how she lost her millions, and the former colonists couldn't care less. Sarah Ferguson poured out her tale of woe to Oprah—and was met with a cynical chorus of Cry Me a River from unimpressed Yanks, notes the Telegraph. Fergie tried to explain why she tried to sell access to former hubby Prince Andrew in a media sting, and how she burned through massive amounts of cash. Apparently, her whole problem is that she's been trying too hard "to be perfect."

The woman "has been trading off her royal connections for years—living well beyond her means, still wanting the royal lifestyle," snarked one viewer on the Oprah website. New York Times TV reviewer Alessandra Stanley scoffed at the so-predictable "ritual of repentance" such celebs trot out. Besides, Stanley points out, Fergie had the most annoying habit of referring to herself in the third person on Oprah (as in: "I feel really sorry for her.") Sarah was hoping for a figurative group hug from Americans. It's no secret she wants to relaunch her business career in the states. (More Sarah Ferguson stories.)