Versace Family Blasts "American Crime Story": "It's a Work of Fiction"
by Lesley Goldberg
Jan. 8, 2017


Less than 10 days before its premiere, the Versace family wants potential viewers to know that the forthcoming season of FX's "American Crime Story", which examines the slaying of Gianni Versace, was not done with its blessing.

"The Versace family has neither authorized nor had any involvement whatsoever in the forthcoming TV series about the death of Mr. Gianni Versace," the family said in a statement Monday.

"Since Versace did not authorize the book on which it is partly based nor has it taken part in the writing of the screenplay, this TV series should only be considered as a work of fiction."





That the Versace family would not support the second season of American Crime Story comes as little surprise. Costume designer (and frequent Murphy collaborator) Lou Eyrich did not receive any support from the Versace family in designing the attire for the season. Instead, Eyrich and her team bought hundreds of vintage Versace from dealers around the world.

"Versace" premieres Jan. 17 on FX.

https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/live-feed/versace-family-blasts-american-crime-story-fx-drama-a-work-fiction-1072888?

Ryan Murphy Responds to Versace Critiques of "American Crime Story"
by Jean Bentley
Jan. 9, 2017


Ryan Murphy knew when he began working on the second season of "American Crime Story" that it would be hard to match the acclaim that "The People v. O.J. Simpson" received.

"You can't top O.J.," Murphy told The Hollywood Reporter at the Arclight Hollywood premiere of "The Assassination of Gianni Versace" on Monday night. "You have to figure out a different way to tell your story. I think the storytelling was more ambitious and more emotional."





Murphy told THR that Donatella Versace's actions seemed to indicate she wasn't entirely displeased with the series.

"Donatella Versace sent Penelope Cruz a very large arrangement of flowers yesterday when she was representing the show at the Golden Globes," he said.

"I don't know if she is going to watch the show but if she did I think she would see that we treat her and her family with respect and kindness and she really is sort of a feminist role model in my book because she had to step into an impossible situation, which she did with grace and understanding."

Said Cruz of the flowers, "That was very nice for me. I don't know if she has seen the show, but it's a personal thing. It really made me smile, it made me happy to get these flowers."





Ultimately, Murphy said, he understands the instinct to be wary of the project.

"Of course I feel if your family is ever portrayed in something, it's natural to sort of have a, 'Well, let's wait and see what happens' attitude. But I think that she really loves Penelope and knows that Penelope would never do anything to represent her in a negative light."

https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/live-feed/ryan-murphy-responds-versace-critiques-fx-show-1073293

Versace Family Releases Second Statement Slamming "Bogus American Crime Story" and Author Maureen Orth
by Tim Stack
Jan. 10, 2018


The battle of words over FX’s "The Assassination of Gianni Versace" continues.

The Versace family released the following new statement Wednesday morning, likely in response to executive producer Ryan Murphy’s statements Tuesday defending the authenticity of the newest installment of "American Crime Story".




As we have said, the Versace family has neither authorized nor had any involvement whatsoever in the forthcoming TV series about the death of Mr. Gianni Versace, which should only be considered as a work of fiction.

The company producing the series claims it is relying on a book by Maureen Orth, but the Orth book itself is full of gossip and speculation. Orth never received any information from the Versace family and she has no basis to make claims about the intimate personal life of Gianni Versace or other family members. Instead, in her effort to create a sensational story, she presents second-hand hearsay that is full of contradictions.



As just one example, Orth makes assertions about Gianni Versace’s medical condition based on a person who claims he reviewed a post-mortem test result, but she admits it would have been illegal for the person to have reviewed the report in the first place (if it existed at all).

In making her lurid claims, she ignores contrary information provided by members of Mr. Versace’s family, who lived and worked closely with him and were in the best position to know the facts of his life.



Gianni Versace was a brave and honest man, who engaged in humanitarian work for the benefit of others. Of all the possible portrayals of his life and legacy, it is sad and reprehensible that the producers have chosen to present the distorted and bogus version created by Maureen Orth.

The Versace family will issue no further comment on the matter.

http://ew.com/tv/2018/01/10/versace-family-second-statement-american-crime-story/

Ryan Murphy responds to the Versace family criticism, notes that Donatella Versace sent Penelope Cruz flowers for portraying her (https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/live-feed/ryan-murphy-responds-versace-critiques-fx-show-1073293)
Murphy said of the Versace family’s response to The Assassination of Gianni Versace: American Crime Story: “Of course I feel if your family is ever portrayed in something, it's natural to sort of have a 'Well, let's wait and see what happens' (attitude). But I think that (Donatella Versace) really loves Penelope and knows that Penelope would never do anything to represent her in a negative light."