His side of the truth—Diane von Fürstenberg’s husband makes public statement on his sexuality
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In a world where love stories are rarely as simple as they seem, one of fashion and media’s most iconic couples has just added a remarkable new chapter to their tale.
Barry Diller, the legendary media mogul and husband to fashion icon Diane von Fürstenberg, has publicly stated his sexuality—offering a candid, deeply personal look at his life, his marriage, and the evolving nature of love and identity.
A Love Story That Defied Labels
For decades, Barry Diller and Diane von Fürstenberg have been the subject of fascination, speculation, and admiration.
Their relationship, which began in the 1970s, has weathered breakups, reunions, and the ever-watchful gaze of the public eye.
After more than two decades of marriage with Diane von Fürstenberg, Barry Diller publicly came out as gay.
Now, in an excerpt from his new memoir Who Knew, Diller is setting the record straight—not just about his sexuality, but about the true nature of his bond with Diane.
“I’ve lived for decades reading about Diane and me: about us being best friends rather than lovers,” Diller writes. “We weren’t just friends. We aren’t just friends. Plain and simple, it was an explosion of passion that kept up for years.”
He shares that while he has always been attracted to men, his love for Diane was never in conflict with his sexuality.
“Yes, I also liked guys, but that was not a conflict with my love for Diane,” he explains. “I can’t explain it to myself or to the world. It simply happened to both of us without motive or manipulation. In some cosmic way we were destined for each other.”
Breaking the Mold: Fluidity in Love and Identity
Diller’s story is a powerful reminder that love and identity don’t always fit into neat boxes.
As he reflects, “sexual identities are much more fluid and natural, without all those rigidly defined lanes of the last century.”
Also read: This couple retired abroad in 50 countries—these are their Top 4 (and the one they’d choose again in a heartbeat!)
When Diller first met Diane in 1974, he had only been romantically involved with men. Yet, when their romance blossomed, he didn’t question it.
“When my romance with Diane began, I never questioned that its biological imperative was as strong in its heterosexuality as its opposite had been. When it happened, my initial response was, ‘Who knew?’”
Their relationship, which included a breakup in 1981 and a reunion a decade later, was often misunderstood by outsiders. People had speculated about his sexuality before, but those rumors faded when he and Diane went public—still, he never spoke about it himself.
“A relationship that began with indifference, then exploded into a romance as natural to us as breathing, surprised us and everyone else,” Diller writes. “It really is the miracle of my life.”
The Courage to Live Authentically
“Many of us at that time were in this exiled state, so stunted in the way we lived,” he recalls. “I could have declared my sexuality, come out as some others were doing, but I was among the many at that time who were too scared to do so.”
Instead, Diller chose to “live in silence, but not with hypocrisy.” He refused to pretend to be someone he wasn’t, even as he kept his private life out of the spotlight.
“I would never pose or pretend,” he explained. “I wouldn’t do a single thing to make anyone believe I was living a heterosexual life.”
The surprise, he says, was the genuine, effortless connection he felt with Diane from their very first date.
Also read: Pat Sajak returns for one night only—and fans can’t help but wonder if it’s time to bring him back
“We wound around each other, making out like teenagers, something I hadn’t done with a female since I was 16 years old,” he remembers. “There was no effort, no reasoning, no what’s-going-on-here, no ambition, no anything. Other than sheer excitement, I thought, ‘Well, this is a surprise!’”
Instead, as he shared, “I was simply existing in the moment, a rare place for me.”
Barry Diller’s reflections are not just a personal reckoning—they are part of a wider cultural shift in how we talk about identity, love, and acceptance. While his story carries the nuance and complexity of a different era, today’s public figures continue to navigate their own paths to authenticity in ways that still resonate deeply.
Take JoJo Siwa, the young performer who came out at 17. “I didn’t understand at the time what a big deal that was,” she admitted. Despite losing fans, she said, “I didn’t care... because it’s who I am.” Her message is simple yet powerful: truth is worth the risk.
Source: E! News / Youtube.
Miley Cyrus, who identifies as pansexual, similarly challenged rigid definitions. “I always hated the word ‘bisexual’... I don’t ever think about someone being a boy or someone being a girl.” For her, identity defied categories—even as early as the fifth grade.
Even older generations have experienced profound shifts. Actor Matt Bomer, now married with three children, said coming out to his religious family changed everything: “I really view my life as divided between the time before I told my parents, and the time after.”
And for rising artist Chappell Roan, who grew up in the Midwest, self-acceptance has been a slower, ongoing process. “It took a lot of unlearning,” she admitted, noting how early cultural messages made her feel conflicted about being gay. “It shouldn’t be [an issue], but something’s just going on and I need to accept that.”
Each of these voices—whether young, middle-aged, or seasoned—illustrates the evolving journey of self-understanding in different times and contexts.
For Barry Diller and Diane von Fürstenberg, that journey looks different—but it’s part of the same larger truth: that love and identity are rarely simple, and always worth honoring.
And for those who grew up in a time when such openness was unthinkable, these stories are both inspiring and a reminder of how far we’ve come as a society.
As Diller himself notes, “sexual identities are much more fluid and natural” today, and the rigid definitions of the past are giving way to a more inclusive, compassionate understanding of what it means to love and be loved.
What Can We Learn from Barry and Diane?
Read next: She’s younger than her son-in-law—and their family wouldn’t have it any other way
Have you or someone you know experienced a relationship that defied traditional labels? How have your views on love and identity changed over the years? We’d love to hear your thoughts and stories—share them in the comments below!
Barry Diller, the legendary media mogul and husband to fashion icon Diane von Fürstenberg, has publicly stated his sexuality—offering a candid, deeply personal look at his life, his marriage, and the evolving nature of love and identity.
A Love Story That Defied Labels
For decades, Barry Diller and Diane von Fürstenberg have been the subject of fascination, speculation, and admiration.
Their relationship, which began in the 1970s, has weathered breakups, reunions, and the ever-watchful gaze of the public eye.
After more than two decades of marriage with Diane von Fürstenberg, Barry Diller publicly came out as gay.
Now, in an excerpt from his new memoir Who Knew, Diller is setting the record straight—not just about his sexuality, but about the true nature of his bond with Diane.
Media mogul Barry Diller, husband of fashion designer Diane von Fürstenberg, has publicly come out as gay, sharing personal insights from his memoir about his sexuality and his decades-long relationship with Diane. Image source: E! News / Youtube.
“I’ve lived for decades reading about Diane and me: about us being best friends rather than lovers,” Diller writes. “We weren’t just friends. We aren’t just friends. Plain and simple, it was an explosion of passion that kept up for years.”
He shares that while he has always been attracted to men, his love for Diane was never in conflict with his sexuality.
“Yes, I also liked guys, but that was not a conflict with my love for Diane,” he explains. “I can’t explain it to myself or to the world. It simply happened to both of us without motive or manipulation. In some cosmic way we were destined for each other.”
Breaking the Mold: Fluidity in Love and Identity
Diller’s story is a powerful reminder that love and identity don’t always fit into neat boxes.
As he reflects, “sexual identities are much more fluid and natural, without all those rigidly defined lanes of the last century.”
Also read: This couple retired abroad in 50 countries—these are their Top 4 (and the one they’d choose again in a heartbeat!)
When Diller first met Diane in 1974, he had only been romantically involved with men. Yet, when their romance blossomed, he didn’t question it.
“When my romance with Diane began, I never questioned that its biological imperative was as strong in its heterosexuality as its opposite had been. When it happened, my initial response was, ‘Who knew?’”
Their relationship, which included a breakup in 1981 and a reunion a decade later, was often misunderstood by outsiders. People had speculated about his sexuality before, but those rumors faded when he and Diane went public—still, he never spoke about it himself.
“A relationship that began with indifference, then exploded into a romance as natural to us as breathing, surprised us and everyone else,” Diller writes. “It really is the miracle of my life.”
Diller reflected on how his love for Diane developed naturally despite his previous romantic experiences only being with men, and discussed the fluidity of sexuality without rigid definitions. Image source: E! News / Youtube.
The Courage to Live Authentically
“Many of us at that time were in this exiled state, so stunted in the way we lived,” he recalls. “I could have declared my sexuality, come out as some others were doing, but I was among the many at that time who were too scared to do so.”
Instead, Diller chose to “live in silence, but not with hypocrisy.” He refused to pretend to be someone he wasn’t, even as he kept his private life out of the spotlight.
“I would never pose or pretend,” he explained. “I wouldn’t do a single thing to make anyone believe I was living a heterosexual life.”
The surprise, he says, was the genuine, effortless connection he felt with Diane from their very first date.
Also read: Pat Sajak returns for one night only—and fans can’t help but wonder if it’s time to bring him back
“We wound around each other, making out like teenagers, something I hadn’t done with a female since I was 16 years old,” he remembers. “There was no effort, no reasoning, no what’s-going-on-here, no ambition, no anything. Other than sheer excitement, I thought, ‘Well, this is a surprise!’”
Instead, as he shared, “I was simply existing in the moment, a rare place for me.”
Barry Diller’s reflections are not just a personal reckoning—they are part of a wider cultural shift in how we talk about identity, love, and acceptance. While his story carries the nuance and complexity of a different era, today’s public figures continue to navigate their own paths to authenticity in ways that still resonate deeply.
Take JoJo Siwa, the young performer who came out at 17. “I didn’t understand at the time what a big deal that was,” she admitted. Despite losing fans, she said, “I didn’t care... because it’s who I am.” Her message is simple yet powerful: truth is worth the risk.
Source: E! News / Youtube.
Miley Cyrus, who identifies as pansexual, similarly challenged rigid definitions. “I always hated the word ‘bisexual’... I don’t ever think about someone being a boy or someone being a girl.” For her, identity defied categories—even as early as the fifth grade.
Even older generations have experienced profound shifts. Actor Matt Bomer, now married with three children, said coming out to his religious family changed everything: “I really view my life as divided between the time before I told my parents, and the time after.”
And for rising artist Chappell Roan, who grew up in the Midwest, self-acceptance has been a slower, ongoing process. “It took a lot of unlearning,” she admitted, noting how early cultural messages made her feel conflicted about being gay. “It shouldn’t be [an issue], but something’s just going on and I need to accept that.”
Each of these voices—whether young, middle-aged, or seasoned—illustrates the evolving journey of self-understanding in different times and contexts.
Barry Diller and Diane von Fürstenburg in their younger years. Image source: Page Six / Youtube.
For Barry Diller and Diane von Fürstenberg, that journey looks different—but it’s part of the same larger truth: that love and identity are rarely simple, and always worth honoring.
And for those who grew up in a time when such openness was unthinkable, these stories are both inspiring and a reminder of how far we’ve come as a society.
As Diller himself notes, “sexual identities are much more fluid and natural” today, and the rigid definitions of the past are giving way to a more inclusive, compassionate understanding of what it means to love and be loved.
Barry Diller and Diane von Fürstenberg’s story is a powerful reminder that the heart wants what it wants—and that’s something worth celebrating at any age. Image source: Page Six / Youtube.
What Can We Learn from Barry and Diane?
- Love is Unique: Every relationship is different, and there’s no one “right” way to love.
- It’s Never Too Late: Whether you’re 16 or 76, it’s never too late to embrace your truth.
- Fluidity is Natural: Human beings are complex, and our identities can evolve over time.
- Courage Inspires Others: By sharing our stories, we help others feel less alone.
Read next: She’s younger than her son-in-law—and their family wouldn’t have it any other way
Have you or someone you know experienced a relationship that defied traditional labels? How have your views on love and identity changed over the years? We’d love to hear your thoughts and stories—share them in the comments below!
