Ryan Murphy is weighing in on criticism from Gianni Versace’s boyfriend about FX’s upcoming “The Assassination of Gianni Versace: American Crime Story.”
Murphy spoke to reporters during the Television Critics Association’s summer press tour on Wednesday about the anthology series’ new season that follows the 1997 murder of the fashion designer. Murphy was asked about Antonio D’Amico reacting negatively to a leaked photo from production that shows Ricky Martin (who plays D’Amico) holding the body of Versace (Edgar Ramirez).
D’Amico called the image of Martin holding Ramirez in his arms “ridiculous.” He added, “Maybe it’s the director’s poetic license, but that is not how I reacted.”
Murphy pointed out that the production does take “liberties” to the true story but that people should watch the season first, rather than making an impression based on an out-of-context image.
“It’s very hard to judge anything that you’re watching based on a paparazzi photograph,” Murphy said.
“You’re not doing a documentary — you’re doing a docudrama,” he continued. “My response to that is they have to see the show, then comment.”
Murphy said that D’Amico is “certainly allowed his opinions,” but that the show is “respectful.”
Martin told the crowd that he recently spoke to D’Amico on the phone, and that they had a positive exchange. Martin said he told D’Amico that the story is treated with “the utmost respect.”
“The Assassination of Gianni Versace: American Crime Story” launches in January 2018 on FX.