Gucci House: Family shocked by insulting and hurtful appearance
Written byTimes Magazine
The heirs of Italian fashion house Gucci have criticized a new film for allegedly portraying family members as "hooligans". House of Gucci plays Lady Gaga as Patricia Reggiana, who is convicted of the 1995 murder of her ex-husband, fashion heir Maurizio Gucci.
The family targeted the film in a letter from the Italian news agency ANSA. Director Ridley Scott was asked for comment. The family said they were portrayed as "stupid" in the film, which stars Adam Driver as Maurizio Gucci and Jared Leto and Al Pacino as the rest of the family.
"The Gucci family reserves the right to take the initiative to protect their name and image and those of their loved ones," the letter said.
They added that Aldo Gucci (played by Pacino), who was chairman of the company from 1953 to 1986, and other relatives "are portrayed as thugs, ignorant and insensitive to the world around them, linking the main characters [and] events too. . . tone and demeanor that never belonged to them.
"This is very painful from a human point of view and an insult to the legacy on which the brand is built today. The family said it was offensive to portray Reggiani, who is "portrayed not only in the film but also in statements by cast members as a victim trying to survive in a male chauvinist corporate culture."
"This couldn't be further from the truth," the statement continued, with the family describing the company as an "inclusive business" when they were in charge. The Gucci family has been out of touch with the fashion house since the 1990s. The luxury brand is currently owned by the French group Kering.
The family is not currently suing the film or its producers.
In a speech on Radio 4 last week, Scott brushed off earlier criticism of Patricia Gucci, Maurizio's second cousin, when he recently spoke to the Associated Press on behalf of the family. He accused the director of "stealing the family's identity for profit."
In an interview earlier this year, Reggiani continued to cross her fingers for Gagas - who cast his Italian ancestry into the role and described him as a genius. However, he later said that he was "upset" that the actress, out of "respect," had not contacted him to meet him.
Producers later said they did not want the couple to meet because they "knew they neither endorsed nor endorsed such a horrific crime." The film, which received mixed reviews from critics, premiered in the UK earlier this month and is due for release in Italy on December 16.
The film, in which Jeremy Irons and Salma Hayek also star, is based on the 2001 book The House of Gucci: A Sensational Story of Murder, Madness, Shine and Greed by Sarah Gay Fordon.
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