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Versace Family: It’s “Sad & Reprehensible” The Assassination of Gianni Versace Uses Maureen Orth’s Source Material

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8 years ago

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The Versace family continues to be ruffled by FX’s The Assassination of Gianni Versace: American Crime Story. In a new statement, the family reiterated they have not authorized the series nor have they had any involvement  in the project and said the basis for the show, Maureen Orth‘s book Vulgar Favors: Andrew Cunanan, Gianni Versace, and the Largest Failed Manhunt in US History is full of gossip.”As we have said, the Versace family has neither authorized nor had any involvement whatsoever in the forthcoming TV series about the death of Mr. Gianni Versace, which should only be considered as a work of fiction,” the family said in a statement. “The company producing the series claims it is relying on a book by Maureen Orth, but the Orth book itself is full of gossip and speculation. Orth never received any information from the Versace family and she has no basis to make claims about the intimate personal life of Gianni Versace or other family members. Instead, in her effort to create a sensational story, she presents second-hand hearsay that is full of contradictions.
“As just one example, Orth makes assertions about Gianni Versace’s medical condition based on a person who claims he reviewed a post-mortem test result, but she admits it would have been illegal for the person to have reviewed the report in the first place (if it existed at all),” the statement continued. “In making her lurid claims, she ignores contrary information provided by members of Mr. Versace’s family, who lived and worked closely with him and were in the best position to know the facts of his life.”Gianni Versace was a brave and honest man, who engaged in humanitarian work for the benefit of others. Of all the possible portrayals of his life and legacy, it is sad and reprehensible that the producers have chosen to present the distorted and bogus version created by Maureen Orth,” the statement concluded. “The Versace family will issue no further comment on the matter.” 

The Assassination of Gianni Versace, American Crime Story

FX

The family previously issued a statement regarding the upcoming second season of Ryan Murphy‘s American Crime Story and said it should be regarded as a “work of fiction.” Producers FX Productions and Fox 21 Television Studios hit back, standing by the work and Murphy told E! News he stands by the series.”The book that we based our show off of, that we own, Vulgar Favors by Maureen Orth, has been out for nearly 20 years,” Murphy told E! News. “And it’s a work of nonfiction. It’s been scrutinized and vetted for close to two decades. And a lot of if not all of Maureen’s reporting in that book was on the record, and it’s been sourced out, and we had our own sources.
“So I just respectfully say,” Murphy continued. “It is not a work of fiction. And I stand by the reporting of our female reporter. And to sort of impune her and say that what she dedicated a large portion of her life to, to say to a female journalist, ‘You’re a liar and what you’re saying is not the truth,’ I don’t think that’s cool.”The series stars Édgar Ramírez as Gianni Versace, Darren Criss as Gianni’s killer, Andrew Cunanan, Ricky Martin as Gianni’s boyfriend Antonio D’Amico and Penélope Cruz as Gianni’s sister Donatella Versace. Cruz said she spoke with Donatella before taking on the role and she received flowers from her just this week.

The Assassination of Gianni Versace, American Crime Story

FX

“I have seen her over the years and she has always been very nice to me. I said to Ryan, ‘Before I say yes I need to make this phone call,’ so he knew I was going to call her. She said to me, that if somebody was going to do it, that if somebody was going to play her, that she was happy it was me. For me to hear those words was what made me make the decision, because I think in a way maybe she felt—she knew that I was going to put all the respect that I feel for her was going to be there,” Cruz told Will Marfuggi at the premiere of the FX series.Cruz said she planned to ask Donatella about the first statement.
In response to the first statement from the Versace family, FX Productions and Fox 21 Television Studios said, “Like the original American Crime Story series The People v. O.J. Simpson, which was based on Jeffrey Toobin‘s non-fiction bestseller The Run of His Life, FX’s follow-up The Assassination Of Gianni Versace is based on Maureen Orth’s heavily researched and authenticated non-fiction best seller Vulgar Favors which examined the true life crime spree of Andrew Cunanan. We stand by the meticulous reporting of Ms. Orth.”
E! News has reached out for comment from FX Productions and Fox 21 Television Studios regarding the latest statement from the Versace family was not immediately returned.The Assassination of Gianni Versace: American Crime Story premieres Wednesday, Jan. 17 at 10 p.m. on FX.
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We Speak Entertainment

“To Love Is To Perform”: Jada Di’Larosa’s Poetic Meditation on Love, Identity, and Solitude

Published

5 days ago

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April 13, 2026

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On April 17, 2026, independent artist Jada Di’Larosa introduces a deeply evocative new chapter in her creative journey with the release of To Love Is To Perform. Emerging from the rich cultural undercurrent of New Orleans, Di’Larosa delivers a project that feels intimate, cinematic, and emotionally unguarded—an album that quietly lingers long after the final note fades.

Blending elements of alternative, indie, and nu-jazz, the record is less about traditional structure and more about atmosphere and emotional storytelling. It unfolds like a series of late-night reflections—soft, immersive, and deeply personal. Each track carries a sense of stillness, where restraint becomes a powerful artistic choice, allowing listeners to fully absorb the subtle complexities within her sound.

Between the Spotlight and the Shadows

Jada Di’Larosa’s artistry is shaped by a compelling dual existence. As a professional dancer and showgirl, her nights are filled with performance, light, and spectacle. Yet beyond the stage, she retreats into solitude—writing music that mirrors her introspective nature. This contrast is the emotional backbone of To Love Is To Perform, where themes of identity, vulnerability, and perception are explored with striking honesty.

Rather than presenting a polished, conventional album, Di’Larosa embraces imperfection. The project carries the raw essence of demos—unfiltered, organic, and alive. In her own words, it is “a diary” of her experiences, offering a glimpse into a world that is both quietly glamorous and deeply introspective. That authenticity gives the album its emotional weight, transforming it into something profoundly human.

Sound as Atmosphere, Silence as Language

Musically, the album is guided by minimalism and mood. Piano and violin arrangements intertwine with her haunting vocal delivery, creating a soundscape that feels almost suspended in time. Di’Larosa’s voice is uniquely her own—delicate yet assured, drifting through each composition with a poetic cadence that enhances the storytelling.

Tracks such as “showgirl” and “movie star” reflect the tension between persona and reality, while “bayou st. john” grounds the album in a sense of place and memory. The title track, “to love is to perform,” offers a philosophical lens on relationships, suggesting that love itself can be an act shaped by roles and expectations. Meanwhile, “costume” emerges as a defining moment—an exploration of identity, illusion, and the masks we wear.

Tracklist

  1. showgirl
  2. movie star
  3. bayou st. john
  4. to love is to perform
  5. candy
  6. blackbird
  7. spinster
  8. a love noir
  9. costume
  10. curtain call

A Quietly Powerful Artistic Statement

What makes To Love Is To Perform so compelling is its refusal to conform. It does not chase trends or demand attention—it invites it. The album thrives in its subtlety, rewarding listeners who are willing to slow down and engage with its emotional depth.

There is a cinematic quality throughout the record, as if each track is a scene from an unseen film—rich with symbolism, mood, and introspection. It’s an experience designed not just to be heard, but to be felt.

Defining Her Own Space

In an industry often driven by visibility and constant output, Jada Di’Larosa stands apart through intentional distance and artistic focus. She allows her work to speak on her behalf, cultivating a sense of mystery that only enhances her presence.

With To Love Is To Perform, she offers more than music—she offers perspective. It is a body of work that explores the delicate balance between who we are and who we present to the world, capturing the beauty and complexity of both.

As the release date approaches, the album positions Di’Larosa as a distinctive voice in contemporary alternative jazz—an artist unafraid to embrace vulnerability, ambiguity, and the quiet power of self-expression.

Connect with Jada Di’Larosa
Official Website: www.jadadilarosa.com
Instagram: @jada.dilarosa
Available on Spotify, Bandcamp, SoundCloud, and YouTube

For inquiries: jadadilarosa@yahoo.com

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