In a world that often turns love into labels, Diane von Furstenberg is rewriting the rules. The 78-year-old fashion icon, whose wrap dress changed women’s wardrobes forever, has made it clear that her husband Barry Diller’s recent coming out as gay hasn’t changed a single thing about their bond.
After years of whispers and speculation, Diller—her husband of 24 years—publicly came out in his March 2025 memoir "Who Knew." But when asked by Variety if the revelation shifted anything between them, Diane brushed off the question with characteristic candor and wit. “What’s the difference?” she said. “I don’t understand. But it doesn’t change anything. I’m sorry—it’s a stupid question.”
© The Hollywood Reporter via Getty“I Married Two Gay Men, OK?”
Diane also reflected on her past marriage to Prince Egon von Fürstenberg, who came out as bisexual after they split in 1972. With a mix of humor and honesty, she acknowledged, “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 emphasized that her relationship with Diller isn’t about “supporting” him through his identity journey. “People see it that way,” she said. “For me, it’s not that way. I don’t know. Yes, I encouraged him to do that book.”
Diane made that clear: “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.”
© GC ImagesTheir connection has always gone deeper than traditional definitions. What started as a friendship in the late 1970s evolved into an unexpected love story. “He turned out to be my soulmate,” Diane revealed. “I didn’t think of it at first. 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.”
Barry Diller’s Side of the Story
In his memoir, the media mogul behind companies like IAC and Expedia describes their connection as something almost cosmic. “I can’t explain it to myself or to the world,” he wrote. “It simply happened to both of us without motive or manipulation. In some cosmic way we were destined for each other.”
“When my romance with Diane began, I never questioned that its biological imperative was as strong in its heterosexuality as its opposite had been,” Diller explained. “When it happened, my initial response was, ‘Who knew?’”
© Getty Images for The Met Museum/Together, Diane von Furstenberg and Barry Diller have built a partnership that thrives on authenticity and respect. Their story is about a connection that’s endured decades, shaped by friendship, mutual admiration, and an unshakable bond. “What’s the difference?” she asked. In her world, there isn’t one.
