Diller Unveils Long-Held Secrets: The Untold Story of His Lifelong Love with Diane von Fürstenberg

Media magnate and co-founder of Fox Broadcasting Barry Diller For the first time, he has spoken openly about being attracted to men and the intricacies of his enduring relationship with renowned fashion designer Diane von Furstenberg.

In an emotional passage from his upcoming autobiography titled "Who Knew," Diller shared insights into his sexual identity, describing the internal struggles he endured for many years and how these battles were entwined with his feelings for von Furstenberg.

Barry Diller Felt Exposed and Anxious Despite His Initial Triumphs

Diller is celebrated for his significant impact on media and entertainment.

Nevertheless, hidden beneath his remarkable achievements, he has confessed that for much of his life, he kept concealed a personal truth: his inclination towards men.

“I have never questioned my sexuality’s basic authority over my life (I was only afraid of the reaction of others),” he confessed in "Who Knew," excerpted by New York Magazine . “And 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?’”

In the memoir, Diller recounted his earliest experiences with men, starting as a teenager in West Hollywood.

"I discovered methods to meet men—beginning in my teens when I would cruise the streets of West Hollywood, slipping in and out of side entrances of bars on Melrose Avenue," he penned.

Despite his rising success, the fear of revealing his secrets left him emotionally detached.

He shared, “I had so much early career success you might have thought I’d conquered what I saw as the biggest danger in my developing life. I’d conquered other phobias, but fear of exposure still had a tyrannical hold on me.”

Barry Diller and Diane von Fürstenberg's Love Defied Labels

In spite of the inner turmoil, Diller’s affection for von Furstenberg remained unmistakable.

The couple, who married in 2001 after decades of romance, first connected in the early 1970s.

I didn't merely desire her; I required her," he penned. "This collided forcefully with my established defenses.

Though he was emotionally unprepared for intimacy, their connection flourished.

“I’ve lived for decades reading about Diane and me: about us being best friends rather than lovers. We weren’t just friends. We aren’t just friends. Plain and simple, it was an explosion of passion that kept up for years.”

Diller candidly addressed the complexity of his emotions: "Yes, I also enjoyed being involved with men, but that didn't clash with my deep affection for Diane."

Barry Diller Set Rules For Himself

For decades, Diller lived by a self-imposed code of silence. Instead of openly coming out, he developed a set of personal rules designed to manage appearances while staying true to himself.

“I would live with silence, but not with hypocrisy,” one of his rules stated. Another declared, “I would never bring a man as a date to a heterosexual event — not that there were many guys I was serious enough about to bring — but I’d never bring a woman as a ‘beard,’ either.”

Reflecting on them now, he refers to those limits as exactly what they were, acknowledging, "I see now that it was the antithesis of bravery."

Although he ultimately understood that "everyone knows," he still refrained from openly defining his sexual identity.

He revealed that successfully compartmentalizing these unwelcome emotions has both governed and frustrated his life ever since.

Lovers Explore Themes of Affection, Self-Identity, and Allowing the World to Uncover Reality

Regarding his prominent relationship with von Furstenberg, Barry Diller allowed people to form their own opinions.

"I initially kept my relationship with Diane away from the public eye because I couldn't categorize it for them," he clarified.

Von Fürstenberg, a dominant figure in the world of fashion who transformed women’s wardrobes with her iconic wrap dress, came to embody female resilience and self-sufficiency. As a result, maintaining their relationship discreetly grew increasingly challenging as she gained more prominence.

However, for Diller, the essence of their connection did not require an explanation.

“Though I admit I was always interested in men, it was never in conflict with my love for Diane,” he said.

The couple's relationship defied traditional categorization, proving that love can transcend norms and definitions.

Diller’s Powerful Statement

Barry Diller and Diane von Fürstenberg have been together for almost half a century, despite not having any biological offspring.

The designer has two children, Prince Alexander, 55, and Tatiana, 54, from her first marriage to Prince Egon von Fürstenberg.

Through his memoir, Diller not only addresses his sexual orientation openly but also delves into reflections on identity, fear, and the intricate nature of how love can manifest.

Still, he maintains he “never wanted to make any declarations.”

However, in telling his truth now, he may have made his most powerful statement yet.