Gianni Versace’s Former Lover Slams ‘American Crime Story’: ‘Not a Trace of Reality’

“The picture of Ricky Martin holding the body in his arms is ridiculous,” says Antonio D’Amico

American Crime Story Versace
Entertainment Weekly

The second season of the FX anthology series “American Crime Story” already has one detractor, and it’s someone who is portrayed in the biographical drama.

“American Crime Story: The Assassination of Gianni Versace” will be covering the death of the fashion designer, who was murdered in 1997 at his Miami home. Antonio D’Amico is one of the case’s central figures, having dated Versace for 15 years. He was also the one who first found the designer after the murder on the steps of his mansion.

D’Amico spoke about the project for the first time since the show was announced, condemning the snippets he has seen so far.

“There has been so much written and said about the murder, and thousands of suppositions, but not a trace of reality,” D’Amico told the Observer.

D’Amico, who was not consulted for the series, is played by Ricky Martin. In one photo from the production, Martin is shown holding Versace, played by Edgar Ramirez, after the murder.

“The picture of Ricky Martin holding the body in his arms is ridiculous,” he said. “Maybe it’s the director’s poetic licence, but that is not how I reacted.”

In actuality, he said that he was drinking coffee close to the mansion’s entrance when he heard the gunshots. He rushed over and saw Versace, surrounded by blood.

“The house had stained glass windows so we couldn’t see what had happened from inside, so we had to open the gate. I saw Gianni lying on the steps, with blood around him. At that point, everything went dark. I was pulled away, I didn’t see any more,” he said.

Another inaccuracy comes in a scene that Martin talked about in a June interview.

“There was a scene where Gianni is weak and almost falling on the beach and I touch him and he goes, ‘Don’t touch me! Paparazzi!’ You don’t understand. That took me back to eight years ago when I was in the closet and it just moved me,” Martin said at the time.

However, D’Amico said that, in reality, Versace was never shy about their relationship or his sexuality.

“We lived like a natural couple, there was never a problem,” he said. “It was the right moment for him to come out in public, but everyone involved in our world knew. He never tried to hide who he was.”

The season also stars Penelope Cruz will play Donatella Versace, while Darren Criss will play Andrew Cunanan, who killed the designer. D’Amico said that he’s not planning on watching.

“American Crime Story: The Assassination of Gianni Versace” is set to air in 2018.

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