Diane von Furstenberg’s marriage hasn’t changed since her longtime husband Barry Diller came out as gay.
The fashion designer broke her silence about her husband’s recent admission that he is part of the LGBTQIA+ community in an interview with Variety published Thursday.
When asked what she meant by “a woman married to a gay man,” von Furstenberg replied, “What’s the difference?”
“I don’t know,” she added.
The newspaper explained that many women “do not want” to marry gay men and asked for more information.
“But that doesn’t change anything. Sorry, stupid question,” she replied, adding, “I’ve been married to two gay men, okay? 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 openly bisexual Prince Egon von Furstenberg from 1969 until they separated in 1972 (and their divorce was finalized in 1983). During their marriage, they had two children, Prince Alexander (55) and Princess Tatiana (55).
Von Furstenberg continued to date Diller for a number of years until 1981. They met again 10 years later and married in 2001.
More than 20 years after saying “I do,” the 83-year-old billionaire businessman came out as gay in May 2025.
“There were many men in my life, but only one woman. She didn’t come into my life until I was 33,” he wrote in a New York Magazine essay titled “The Truth About Us Through the Years.”
He continued, “I have never questioned the fundamental authority of sexuality in my life (I was just afraid of other people’s reactions).”
Diller explained that he knew that his relationship with von Furstenberg “caused confusion and much speculation” because people around him knew that von Furstenberg was sexually attracted to men.
“A relationship that started out of indifference exploded into a romance that was as natural to us as breathing, surprising us and everyone else. It truly is a miracle of my life,” he said, describing their “unique and perfect love.”
The wrap dress inventor also referenced Diller’s 2025 memoir, Who Knew, in which he addressed his sexuality.
“Support him? What does it mean to support him? People see it that way, but for me it’s not,” she told Variety. “I don’t know. Yes, I encouraged him to read the book. And yes, I encouraged him to read Audible.”
“But for me, this book is not about that. It’s about his life. And, of course, he opened up to me right away. For 50 years, I was the only person he opened up to. And he wrote the book.”
Von Furstenberg said she thought Diller was just a friend at first, but he eventually became her “soulmate.”
“I didn’t think of it at first. He was in town. I was throwing a party for Sue Mengers and he came over,” she recalled. “I was interested in being good friends. I didn’t think it could be anything else. And it turned into a passion. He was very persistent.”
