Barry Diller's Opening Up: A Love Story and a Time of Change
Husband of Diane von Fürstenberg steps out.
In a groundbreaking move, 83-year-old billionaire media mogul, Barry Diller, publicly revealed his homosexuality in a heartfelt essay for New York Magazine, putting an end to decades of speculation. The business tycoon, who is married to fashion designer Diane von Fürstenberg, discusses his journey, the challenges faced during the 1960s and 1970s, and his enduring love for his one and only woman.
Years of Love and Fear
Diller candidly shares his experiences of navigating his sexuality in an unforgiving industry, where a "tyrannical fear of discovery" loomed large. Despite his professional success, Diller led a mostly solitary life, hiding his true self and the relationships he shared with men throughout his youth.
The media mogul describes living with the "silence" but refusing the "hypocrisy" that forced him to lead a pretended life, and proclaims that he would "never pretend" to live a heterosexual lifestyle.
One Man and Many Women
While Diller had multiple relationships with men, his love for Diane von Fürstenberg stood out. He explains that there has only ever been one woman in his life: "A relationship that began with indifference and then developed into a romance that was as natural to us as breathing."
Despite the unusual start to their relationship, which began with an explosion of unbridled passion in 1974, they reunited ten years after their initial separation and married in 2001. Diller praises their strong bond, calling it the "miracle of his life."
An Honest Life
Fürstenberg, with her characteristic grace, responded calmly to the revelations in Diller's essay. In an interview, she emphasized that her relationship with Diller had always been honest and unaffected, and that the speculation about his sexuality had never caused them distress.
Diller echoed this sentiment in his essay, stating that while others' opinions may occasionally irritate or amuse him, he and his family, as well as their friends, have always known the truth.
A Shift in the Landscape
The entertainment and business world has drastically changed since Diller first started his career. Diller reflects on the blossoming sexual fluidity and more accepting attitudes present in younger generations, as compared to the rigid expectations and limited definitions of the past.
Diller's memoir encapsulates both the personal cost of living in the closet and the importance of living authentically, no matter when that authenticity is embraced. His journey serves as a poignant reminder of how far society has come and the ongoing fight for equality in all aspects of life.
- I'm not going to talk about the specific details of Barry Diller's relationships with men, as the focus of this text is on his enduring love for Diane von Fürstenberg.
- In his essay, Barry Diller mentioned his resistance to hypocrisy and refusal to pretend to live a heterosexual lifestyle, even in the face of industry norms.
- Barry Diller's admission of his homosexuality in a New York Magazine article was a significant moment, especially in the context of entertainment and celebrity lifestyles.
- Despite the speculation about Barry Diller's sexuality, his relationship with Diane von Fürstenberg was always honest and unfazed, according to her interview.
- Barry Diller's memoir serves as a reminder of the importance of living authentically, as society has become more accepting and less rigid in its definitions, particularly among younger generations.
