"Coming Clean - The Sincere Tales of Barry Diller"
Husband of Diane von Fürstenberg steps out.
Legendary media titan Barry Diller, aged 83, echoes gay rumors swirling since his relationship with fashion designer Diane von Fürstenberg began. He lays it all on the line in a tell-all essay published on "New York Magazine," finally confirming his homosexuality while sharing stories of his love life.
In his gripping piece, Diller unveils the haunting fear that dominated his youth – the "tyrannical dread of discovery" that forged a life shrouded in secrecy and isolation, despite his professional triumphs. "I never questioned my inherent sexual orientation," Diller confesses, "[but] I was terrified of other people's reactions."
The 60s and 70s entertainment industry shaped a landscape that snuffed out those daring to challenge the status quo. Homosexuality was a scarlet letter, and Blakey, embarking on a prosperous career, faced unspoken yet suffocating pressures to hide his true nature. He spent his life in hotels and rented apartments, leading a life in hiding, wrestling with silence but refusing to surrender to hypocrisy. As he writes, "I would never pretend. I never would feign a heterosexual existence."
Laying His Heart on the Line for Diane
Yet his heart truly belonged to just one – Diane von Fürstenberg. "There were countless men in my existence, yet there was only one woman," he admits. Their romance began unexpectedly in 1974, marked by an abrupt surge of powerful emotion that defied reason. "It evolved into an affection as organic as breathing to us, astonishing us and everyone around us."
Fürstenberg and Diller were at crossroads until 1981, when a brief affair with Richard Gere brought their relationship to a halt. The couple then found their way back to each other ten years later and made their union official in 2001, 26 years after their first encounter.
"Today, he has shared his truth with the world," Diller intimates.
Fürstenberg remains unfazed by the revelations, viewing Diller's essay as an expression of honesty and authenticity. In an interview with the "New York Times," she asserts that their bond transcends the need for constant discussion, assuring, "We never pondered our partnership; we lived it. Thus, the speculation surrounding Diller's sexuality never posed a significant hurdle."
- Celebrity Couples
- Homosexuality
- Hollywood
Further Insights:
- Barry Diller's journey as a gay man in the entertainment industry of the 1960s and 1970s: The era was fraught with social stigma and discrimination, and those who were openly gay faced strong discrimination. Though Diller's essay does not provide explicit details, this period likely contributed to his fear of others' reactions and the need to lead a closeted life.
- Influential figures in the industry coming out: As times change, more people in the entertainment industry have felt empowered to come out. Today, we see a greater diversity in presence and representation, with celebrities like Apple CEO Tim Cook, openly gay, setting bold new standards in leadership.
- Despite his groundbreaking career, Barry Diller faced the 'tyrannical dread of discovery' in his youth due to his homosexuality, a topic he's always been reserved about, as evident in his statement, "I'm not going to talk about it."
- The string of events in Diller's life, including his relationship with Diane von Fürstenberg, have transpired against the backdrop of Hollywood, a landscape known for its celebrity relationships and entertainment gossip.
- In an industry once dominated by hypocrisy, Diller's decision to publish his tell-all essay in the magazine 'New York' made waves, serving as a testament to his authenticity and his bold stance against staying silent.
- Diller's and von Fürstenberg's relationship, filled with its twists and turns, feeds into the intriguing tales of celebrity couples, demonstrating that love, even in the face of societal constraints, is an undeniable force.
- The saga of their relationship, along with Diller's decision to come out, sheds light on the journey of being a gay man in the entertainment world, ultimately empowering others to embrace their identities with pride and authenticity.
