Carole Radziwill Reflects on Past Friendship with Ghislaine Maxwell

Carole Radziwill, a former star of “The Real Housewives of New York City,” recently addressed her connection to Ghislaine Maxwell after her name appeared in documents linked to the late Jeffrey Epstein. Radziwill, now 62, was once friends with Maxwell, who is a convicted sex offender.

In a conversation with The New York Times, Radziwill recounted her memories of Maxwell and their friendship during the early 2000s. She spoke candidly about how shocking it was to realize that a friend could have such a dark side. “Imagine knowing someone… and that person turns out to be like a monster,” she shared.

Radziwill explained that her friendship with Maxwell lasted about five or six years. At the time, she found Maxwell to be intelligent and well-educated, which made her easy to be around. “If you were to line up 10 women and ask them to choose one who is involved in an international sex trafficking ring, it would not be her,” Radziwill remarked.

Interestingly, Maxwell played a role in Radziwill’s career; she took Radziwill’s author photo for her 2005 memoir. In light of recent scrutiny, Radziwill’s relationship with Maxwell has attracted renewed interest. Emails and messages between the two women have surfaced, raising eyebrows despite no accusations against Radziwill personally.

Radziwill noted that she was introduced to influential figures through Maxwell, including connections to Prince Andrew. She recalled attending events alongside Maxwell, including a cocktail party at which Epstein was present, although the nature of his involvement was not hinted at during those occasions.

Reflecting on the unraveling of Maxwell’s criminal activities, Radziwill expressed her disbelief. “I didn’t know anything about Jeffrey Epstein,” she stated, demonstrating how disconnected she felt from the events that later came to light.

Maxwell was convicted of sex trafficking and is serving a 20-year sentence, while Epstein died in custody in 2019. The resurgence of interest in Epstein-related documents has placed many public figures, including Radziwill, in a challenging situation. They are now compelled to revisit friendships that carry newfound implications.

As she navigates this turbulent chapter of her past, Radziwill has found comfort in her late mother-in-law’s wisdom. She has come to terms with the misunderstandings that can arise from being in the public eye and aims to move forward with peace. “You’re going to be misunderstood, but it’s okay,” she concluded.