Gianni Versace
Gianni Versace, a white man with light hair, and Antonio D'Amico, a white man with dark hair, hold three puppies and smile.
Content note for murder
"I never fall down. I always fight."
– Gianni Versace
Gianni Versace was a well-known man, and the details of his life and death are readily available, so it’s easy to imagine that there isn’t much to say about him that hasn’t already been said. However, there is much still left unsaid about the man who had his life entangled with Versace’s for fifteen years. His name is one that rarely shares a headline with Versace's, but it does not lack importance: Antonio D'Amico.
Gianni Versace was a revolutionary man in the world of fashion, having grown up surrounded by it; his mother was a dressmaker, and Versace furthered her path by learning from her. He opened his first boutique in 1978. His designs drew influence from the classics while also having their own vibrant, modern look. Critics varied wildly in their opinions of him; his clothes were either game-changing or gaudy – sometimes both at the same time. Given these elements and reviews, Versace’s brand grew quickly. Through his hard work and extraordinary passion, he was soon making clothes for celebrities such as Prince, Princess Diana, and Elton John. With his famous friends, in addition to his groundbreaking work, Gianni Versace quickly became a household name. He took advantage of his famous connections by putting them in the front row of his fashion shows. It was a new tactic and one that only further catapulted him into the public sphere.
During his time in the public sphere, Versace developed a complicated relationship with the press. While he was very open about every aspect of his life and his work, he also knew how the press worked, and he used the system to his advantage. He created controversial designs and used the press debate over his work to push himself higher into the realm of fame. He also understood that not everyone could deal with publicity with the strategic grace he could, and he did his best to help celebrities hide their scandals. He had a house set up where his celebrity friends would hide until they were ready to face the press. Unfortunately, this generosity was not only extended to those who deserved it, but to people who truly and thoroughly deserved no kindness - Woody Allen is a prime example. Allen later gave Versace a role in one of his films, which makes one wonder if the house was an act of altruism by Versace or just another calculated step to push himself higher.
Regardless of how he earned his place in the spotlight, Versace had it, and the press loved to talk about him. That is, with one glaring exception. Gianni Versace was openly gay, and because that was something most of the press believed to be a flaw, they did their best to brush over it. In the case of Versace, the press had to airbrush an entire person out of their stories. Antonio D’Amico, a model for the Versace label, was also Gianni Versace’s boyfriend for fifteen years, before Versace’s murder in 1997.
D’Amico met Versace in 1982 and had a successful career with the Versace company outside of his relationship with the owner. He worked in designing and modelling, which led to him working on projects outside of the label after Versace’s death. Versace was based in Italy, and even though he travelled often, his relationship with D’Amico was not recognized under the law. Thus, after Versace’s death, D’Amico was willed a significant allowance and access to the houses, but these were quickly stripped away by Versace’s siblings.
They left D’Amico with only a small sum, a fraction of what Versace had wanted to be left to the man. The family was very vocal about their distaste for D’Amico. The press stayed firmly on the family’s side, rarely mentioning D’Amico in relation to Versace, despite their long relationship. Many outlets called him an ex, even though their relationship was only ended by Versace’s death. The rare outlets that do mention him often fail to mention his gender or achievements outside of his relationship with Versace. This deliberate erasure offended the couple's friends, including Elton John, who is still close to D’Amico.
It was clear that even though Versace was open about his sexuality and his relationship, the press was not ready to be and still seems reluctant to address it. Such a huge name in fashion and popular media cannot be ignored, so instead, most in the press do their best to forget that this particular aspect of Versace’s life existed. In doing so, they erase D’Amico, proving how little they value the relationships between queer couples.
Versace and D’Amico were together for fifteen years, only separated by death. Though Versace’s home country did not recognize same-sex marriages during this time, it was likely if it had, the two may have married, or at the least been recognized as a common-law relationship. This, however, is wishful thinking. After Versace died, D’Amico was erased from the man’s history. It is well known that the press loves a love story, but it is often forgotten that they have a very particular taste. They want only to hear from heterosexual couples and prefer that any same-sex couples keep their romance private. And because of this, history misses out on hearing some of the greatest love stories of all time.
REFERENCES AND FURTHER READING
Disclaimer: some of the sources may contain triggering material
Belonsky A. (2013, July 15). Today In Gay History: Versace's Murder. Out Magazine. http://www.out.com/entertainment/today-gay-history/2013/07/15/today-gay-history-versaces-murder
Brathwaithe, L. (2015, February 13). The 15 Greatest Gay Designers. Queerty. https://www.queerty.com/the-15-greatest-gay-designers-20150213
Horyn, C. (1999, May 25.) Versaces Halt Unauthorized Book on Slain Designer. The New York Times. http://www.nytimes.com/1999/05/25/style/versaces-halt-unauthorized-book-on-slain-designer.html
Rush, G, Molloy, J, et al. (1999, June 21). Versace’s Ex Has an Ally in Elton. New York Daily News. http://www.nydailynews.com/archives/gossip/versace-ally-elton-article-1.837600
