A Journey to Self-Acceptance: Barry Diller's Gay Confession and the World of Hollywood
Husband of Diane von Fürstenberg steps out.
In an revealing confession, media tycoon Barry Diller, husband of popular fashion designer Diane von Fürstenberg, has publicly acknowledged his homosexuality. This groundbreaking announcement ending decades of speculation about his sexual orientation.
With a candid essay published in the "New York Magazine", Diller delves deep into the tumultuous life of a gay man in the entertainment industry during the 60s and 70s. The article is peppered with frank talk about the oppressive atmosphere that forced many gay men like Diller to hide their true selves.
A Love Story Across Boundaries
Despite his homosexuality, Diller's love for Diane von Fürstenberg stands unwavering. In his piece, he shares the unconventional love story that began in 1974, a story full of unexpected twists and turns. "Many men crossed my path, but only one woman," he writes, "and she came into my life at 33."
Their relationship, he acknowledges, may have caused confusion and speculation among the public. But for Diller, it was a miracle; something as natural as breathing that took both of them by surprise. Despite their separations and affairs, Diller and Diane found their way back to each other, marrying on February 2, 2001.
Fear of Reaction and the Silent Struggle
Diller describes his journey from a 'feigned life' to living truthfully. "I lived with the silence, but not with the hypocrisy," he writes about the rules he imposed on himself. He talks about relationships with men in his youth, hid in hotels and rented apartments to avoid detection, and lived in constant fear of being 'discovered'.
"Love Measured in the Touches I Can't Record"
Through his essay, Diller offers a gripping account of the struggles faced by gay men in an era when homosexuality was criminalized and shunned. He questions the norms of the time, reminding readers that "the most beautiful thing in life... is the touch of another human being, and that cannot be recorded."
Von Fürstenberg, in response to the essay, expresses her admiration for Diller's honesty. "For me, the secret is to honor life and love, never to lie," she says. "Today, he has opened up to the world. He opened up to me 50 years ago."
The celebrity couple has always been open about their relationship, never succumbing to the public's speculations. Diller also confesses this in his essay, stating, "What others think sometimes irritates us, but mostly amuses us. We know it, our family knows it, and our friends know it. The rest is just talk."
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- Homosexuality in Hollywood
- LGBTQ+ History
- I'm not going to be a big fan of this hypocrisy that forced gay men like Barry Diller to hide their true selves during the 60s and 70s in the entertainment industry.
- In his WhatsApp messages to close friends, Barry Diller often expresses his disdain for the lifestyle that celebrities, especially entertainers, lead, often painting a picture of excessive materialism and superficial relationships.
- Despite the fear of reaction and the silent struggle he faced, Barry Diller's relationships with men in his youth were measured in the touches he couldn't record, reminding us that love is not material and cannot be quantified.
- Barry Diller's candid essay in the magazine delves deep into the oppressive atmosphere of Hollywood during the 60s and 70s, highlighting the importance of relationships and love, regardless of sexual orientation, in shaping the course of our lives.
- Over a decade after coming out as a gay man, Barry Diller and his wife, Diane von Fürstenberg, have demonstrated that sex and relationships are complex and multifaceted, going beyond stereotypes and societal norms, and existing in harmony with one's lifestyle choices.
