Audrey Hepburn’s son responds to Ivanka Trump’s controversial tribute at inauguration

Audrey Hepburn’s eldest son, Sean Hepburn Ferrer, has spoken out following Ivanka Trump’s tribute to his late mother at the Liberty Ball during her father Donald Trump’s inauguration. While Ferrer acknowledged the family’s long-standing connection with Audrey, he hinted that the iconic actress’ political views may not have aligned with the current administration’s ideology.

The First Daughter, 43, donned a recreation of a Hubert de Givenchy gown originally worn by Audrey in the 1954 film Sabrina. Ivanka paired the strapless black-and-white dress with black gloves and a Leviev floral diamond necklace, deviating from Audrey’s minimalist styling. The White House stated that Ivanka was “honored to pay homage to Audrey, who has long been a personal inspiration.”

Sean Hepburn Ferrer, 64, told DailyMail.com, “It is no wonder that growing up in a family which knew our mother as a household name she chose to draw inspiration from her, to seek the ultimate elegance and class reference, for an occasion such as this one.” He also noted the timing of the tribute, coinciding with the 32nd anniversary of Audrey’s passing and Martin Luther King Jr. Day, calling it “what a cocktail!”

Ferrer recalled the family ties, including Donald Trump’s former wife Marla Maples sitting on the Audrey Hepburn Children's Fund advisory board and Ivanka’s stepsister Tiffany’s first birthday celebration, themed “Breakfast with Tiffany” in homage to Audrey’s iconic 1961 film.

However, Ferrer subtly acknowledged the criticism of Ivanka’s choice, saying, “My mother fought on behalf of the disenfranchised children worldwide regardless of the ideological environment in which they were born in.” He added that Audrey’s values were more aligned with the “woke” Episcopal Bishop Marianne Budde, who has been critical of the current administration.

The tribute drew mixed reactions online, with many fans of Audrey criticizing Ivanka’s gesture. “I’m a big Audrey fan and this is 100 percent insulting to her memory,” one user wrote on Reddit. Another commented, “She witnessed first-hand the devastation of the Nazis, and it stayed with her for the rest of her life and inspired her work with UNICEF.”

Born to a Dutch baroness and a British-Austrian businessman, Audrey Hepburn bravely carried messages for the Dutch resistance during World War II and dedicated much of her life to humanitarian work as a UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador. She was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 1992 and passed away in 1993 from abdominal cancer.

Sean Ferrer highlighted his mother’s enduring legacy, stating, “Her elegance, which has its roots in her inner beauty and spirit, is often a reference point, an anchor, for many celebrities, actresses, and models in these times in which we appear to have somewhat lost our way.”