Diane von Furstenberg breaks silence on long-time husband Barry Diller coming out as gay
Written by admin on October 16, 2025
Diane von Furstenberg’s marriage hasn’t changed after her long-time husband, Barry Diller, came out as gay.
The fashion designer broke her silence on her husband’s recent admission that he is part of the LGBTQIA+ community in an interview with Variety published Thursday.
When asked what it means to be “a woman married to a man who’s gay,” von Furstenberg replied, “What’s the difference?”
“I don’t understand,” she added.
The outlet explained that many women “wouldn’t want” to be married to a gay man and pressed her for more information.
“But it doesn’t change anything. I’m sorry — it’s a stupid question,” she replied, adding, “I married two gay men, OK? I don’t know why, but to me, they’re not gay, so it doesn’t make any difference. ”
Von Furstenberg, 78, was married to Prince Egon von Fürstenberg — who was openly bisexual — from 1969 until separating in 1972 (and they finalized their divorce in 1983). They welcomed two kids during their marriage: Prince Alexandre, 55, and Princess Tatiana, 55.
Von Furstenberg moved on with Diller and they dated on and off for years until 1981. They reunited a decade later and tied the knot in 2001.
More than two decades after saying “I Do,” the billionaire businessman, 83, came out as gay in May 2025.
“While there have been a good many men in my life, there has only ever been one woman, and she didn’t come into my life until I was 33 years old,” he wrote in an essay for New York Magazine titled, “The truth about us, after all these years.”
He continued, “I have never questioned my sexuality’s basic authority over my life (I was only afraid of the reaction of others).”
Diller explained that he knew that his relationship with von Furstenberg “caused confusion and lots of speculation” as people in their circles knew he was sexually attracted to men.
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“A relationship that began with indifference, then exploded into a romance as natural to us as breathing, surprised us and everyone else. It really is the miracle of my life,” he said, describing their “unique and complete love.”
The wrap-dress inventor also addressed Diller’s 2025 memoir, “Who Knew,” in which he touches on his sexuality.
“Supporting him? What do you mean, supporting him? People see it that way. For me, it’s not that way,” she told Variety. “I don’t know. Yes, I encouraged him to do that book, and yes, I encouraged him to do the Audible.”
She added, “But for me, the book is not about that. It’s about his life. And of course, with me, he opened immediately. For 50 years, I was the only person he opened to. Then he wrote the book.”
Von Furstenberg said that Diller ended up being her “soul mate” after she initially thought they would just be friends.
“I didn’t think of it at first. He was a man about town. I was giving a party for Sue Mengers, and he came,” she recalled. “I was interested in being a good friend; I never thought it would be anything else. Then it turned to passion. He was very insistent.”
