Episode #184 | 07.02.24

Gianni Versace: Sly Stallone, Madonna, Elton John, a Serial Killer, and the Death of the Sun King

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In this episode

Gianni Versace was a runway iconoclast who outfitted the likes of Madonna, Demi Moore, Prince, Sylvester Stallone, and Don Johnson. He lived like Louis XIV and counted Princess Di and Elton John among his friends. He was plagued by rumors of ties to the Calabrian mafia and a secret health diagnosis. Those rumors continued to persist long after he was gunned down by a serial killer who had been on the lam after murdering four other men in three states.

This episode contains themes that may be disturbing to some listeners, including suicide and graphic depictions of violence.

 

Sources

Vulgar Favors: The Assassination of Gianni Versace, by Maureen Orth

The Assassination of Gianni Versace: American Crime Story (FX)

House of Versace: The Untold Story of Genius, Murder, and Survival, by Deborah Ball

The Emperor of Dreams (New Yorker)

Charlie Rose Interviews Gianni Versace (Charlie Rose)

Gianni Versace, 50, the Designer Who Infused Fashion With Life and Art (New York Times)

Sylvester Stallone Says He Might Have Helped Save Designer’s Life (The Morning Call)

USA: FBI Warned Sylvester Stallone That His LIfe Was in Danger (AP, via YouTube)

Tour Sylvester Stallone’s House in Miami (Architectural Digest)

Stallone’s Long ‘Rocky’ Road (Chicago Tribune)

A Sly Move: At 51, Sylvester Stallone Is Putting Rambo Behind Him (Washington Post)

'Copland': Sly Holds His Own (NY Times)

Copland (1997, dir. James Mangold)

Miami Fence for Stallone Gives Public the Gate (Washington Post)

Stallonegate (Tampa Bay Times)

Serial Killers, Part 6: Andrew Cunanan Murders a Fashion Icon (FBI.gov)

Mother says slaying suspect a ‘high-class’ gay prostitute (Associated Press)

Stallone Decides to Vacate Bayfront Mansion in Miami (South Florida Sun Sentinel)

Close to Home (South Florida Sun Sentinel)

Planet Hollywood Plans Smash Debut This Summer (South Florida Sun Sentinel)

The heat was on: Don Johnson looks back on 'Miami Vice' (Miami Herald)

A Miami Vice Reboot Is in the Works (So Break Out Your Vintage Versace) (W)

Rocky Ending (People)

Stallone’s Versace Housewares ad in 1995 with Claudia Schiffer

I’m Going to Miss You, Gianni (Time)

Paintings, Furniture and Works of Art from the Collection of Gianni Versace Villa Fountanelle, Moltrasio (Sotheby’s)

Madonna on Letterman (1994)

Warren Beatty Looks Back at Dating 'Phenomenon' Madonna and Why He Didn't Want to Be in Truth or Dare (People)

Madonna Makes a $60 Million Deal (The New York Times)

Forbes Celebrity Covers: Madonna, October 1990 (Forbes.com)

Versace’s Villa Fontanelle, Sold! (Variety)

The True Story of the Versace Mansion (Vanity Fair)

Versace's Errors Showed Him a Way (New York Times)

Gianni Versace raises eyebrows, and hackles, in The New Yorker (New York Times)

Remember when Liz Hurley wore 'that' dress? (CNN.com)

Black Versace dress of Elizabeth Hurley (Wikipedia)

How J.Lo's Grammy Gown Became The First Viral Dress (Billboard)

On the Runway, Fendi and Versace; Favorite Pants Shape Other Things, Too (NY Times)

Men's Fashion: The New European Trends (New York Times)

Armani, Fendi, Missoni and Versace: The Italian Designers Come to Town (New York Times)

Gianni Versace (Victoria and Albert Museum)

Versace Fall 1992 Ready-to-Wear Collection (Vogue)

J. Paul Getty III: Exclusive 1974 Interview with Kidnapped Oil Heir (Rolling Stone)

Portrait Emerges of a Fugitive’s Daily Life (Chicago Tribune)

Dead Men Tell No Tales (Time)

Andrew Cunanan's quiet life in Miami Beach (CNN)

Versace’s killer vanished. And the manhunt was on (Miami Herald)

Chronicle (New York Times)

Summer for the Sun Queen Donatella Versace (New York Magazine)

La Bella Donatella (Vanity Fair)

Mondo Donatella (New Yorker)

Versace’s palace was an oil heir’s mansion, grungy apartment complex and swank hotel (Miami Herald)

Cunanan Houseboat Stay Was Quirky (South Florida Sun Sentinel)

Versace’s former mansion sold for $41.5 million (New York Daily News)

Donald Trump: I'm bidding for former Versace mansion on South Beach (Miami Herald)

Gianni Versace's Mansion Is Now a Luxury Hotel (Town & Country)

2 men found dead at former Gianni Versace mansion on Miami Beach day before anniversary of designer's death (CBS News)

2 men found dead at The Villa Casa Casuarina (Miami Herald)

 

Credits

Hosted by Jake Brennan.

Written by Camille Dodero.

Copy edited by Pat Healy.

Scored and mixed by Matt Tahaney.

Additional music and score elements by Ryan Spraker.

DISGRACELAND theme song, “Crenshaw Space Boogie,” written and produced by Jake Brennan. Performed by Jake Brennan, Bryce Kanzer, Jay Cannava, and Evan Kenney. Mixed and engineered by Adam Taylor.

*illustrations by Avi Spivak @avispivak