Barry Diller, who has been married to fashion designer Diane von Furstenberg since 2001, is openly speaking for the first time about his past relationships with men.
“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,” the billionaire, 83, wrote Tuesday 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).”
The IAC chairperson said that when he began dating von Furstenberg, 78, after they met in 1974, he “never questioned that its biological imperative was as strong in its heterosexuality as its opposite had been.” He added that when the romance “happened,” his “initial response was ‘Who knew?’
The couple were off and on for years and separated in 1981 before eventually reuniting in 1991. They then went on to tie the knot in 2001. They have no biological children together.
However, the Belgian fashion maven has two adult children from her previous marriage to Prince Egon von Furstenberg: Alexander von Furstenberg and Tatiana von Furstenberg.
Diller — who has only ever been married to Diane — added in his essay that he is “well aware” that relationship with the designer has “caused confusion and lots of speculation,” perhaps alluding that those in his inner circle have known about his sexual desires with men.
“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,” the businessman added of his marriage, which he also described as a “unique and complete love.”
“Plain and simple, it was an explosion of passion that kept up for years.”
Diller then further confessed, “And, yes, I also liked guys, but that was not a conflict with my love for Diane. I can’t explain it to myself or to the world.”
He added that he and Diane were in some “cosmic” way “destined for each other.”
Dillar said he related to modern-day views on sexual identities, which are “much more fluid and natural, without all those rigidly defined lanes of the last century.”
Page Six has reached out to Diane’s rep for comment on the piece but did not immediately hear back.
It’s unclear where the pair’s relationship stands now, following this public admission. However, it does not appear that either party has filed for divorce.
In 2010, Diane gave rare insight into her own views on her marriage, telling Page Six at the time, “Barry has loved me unconditionally for 34 years.
“I did leave him, and I went with other men, but they always ended up being jealous of Barry and not the other way around,” she added, referencing gaps in their relationship.
“At the end, he got me, and I’m happy he got me,” Diane said. “He’s the pillar of our family.”
The “House of DVF” alum confessed at the time, though, that they “don’t sleep together” but said, “I like it this way.”
She concluded, “It’s my decision. Eventually, we’ll get a place in the city together.”
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