Donatella Versace praises her brother Gianni as an 'inspiration' in touching tribute during Vogue interview, after publicly condemning American Crime Story series about his murder

  • Donatella, 62, opened up about her brother Gianni, who was murdered in 1997 aged 50, in an interview for Vogue's 73 Questions
  • She said the one thing she misses most about him is his laugh, and that the best advice he ever gave her is: 'Be true to yourself'
  • The current Versace artistic director also smiled as she said her older brother would deem her work as head of the brand 'not good enough'
  • Asked about the best gift she's ever received, Donatella said it was a yellow diamond given to her by her beloved brother
  • Earlier this month, Donatella slammed FX's American Crime Story series about Gianni's murder, The Assasssination Of Gianni Versace
  •  She called the series 'fiction'; the Versace family said it was not authorized by the family and they weren't involved
  • Members of the family also didn't authorize the book series is based on  

Donatella Versace has paid a touching tribute to her late brother Gianni, after her family slammed the new American Crime Story documentary chronicling the story of his murder 20 years ago.

The Versace artistic director, 62, answered questions about her older brother during an interview for Vogue's 73 Questions, conducted in Gianni's former apartment in Milan.

Gianni was murdered in July 1997 in Miami Beach, Florida, after the serial killer Andrew Cunanan, then 27, shot him on the steps of his mansion.

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Sibling: Donatella Versace has paid a touching tribute to her late brother Gianni during an interview for Vogue's 73 Questions, conducted in Gianni's former apartment in Milan

Sibling: Donatella Versace has paid a touching tribute to her late brother Gianni during an interview for Vogue's 73 Questions, conducted in Gianni's former apartment in Milan

Touched: The Versace artistic director, 62, was clearly moved during the interview. When the interviewer asked her how Gianni has inspired her, she replied: 'His life inspired me'

Touched: The Versace artistic director, 62, was clearly moved during the interview. When the interviewer asked her how Gianni has inspired her, she replied: 'His life inspired me'

Brother: Gianni (pictured with his sister in the 1990s) was murdered in July 1997 in Miami Beach, Florida, after serial killer Andrew Cunanan shot him on the steps of his mansion

Brother: Gianni (pictured with his sister in the 1990s) was murdered in July 1997 in Miami Beach, Florida, after serial killer Andrew Cunanan shot him on the steps of his mansion

Two decades after her brother's death, Donatella said that what she misses the most about Gianni is his laugh.

She also recounted the best advice he ever gave her as, 'Be true to yourself.'

During the bittersweet interview, Donatella, clearly moved, smiled after the interviewer asked her what Gianni would think of her work as the artistic director of their brand.

'Not good enough,' she said.

Donatella also shared that her favorite memory of her brother is being backstage with him at the last Paris Fashion show before his death.

When the interviewer asked her in which ways Gianni has inspired her, she replied: 'His life inspired me.'

And when he asked her to describe the best gift she's ever received, Donatella, visibly emotional, told her it was a yellow diamond given to her by her brother.

In September last year, Versace unveiled a tribute collection made in honor of Gianni. 

Supermodels Cindy Crawford, Helena Christensen, Naomi Campbell, Claudia Schiffer, and Carla Bruni all walked on the catwalk together as part of the iconic moment.

'It was too painful to think about it before,' Donatella told Vogue about the tribute. 'Twenty years went by and I was ready.' 

Looking back: Donatella also shared that her favorite memory of her brother is being backstage with him at the last Paris Fashion show before his death

Looking back: Donatella also shared that her favorite memory of her brother is being backstage with him at the last Paris Fashion show before his death

Tough feedback: During the bittersweet interview, Donatella, clearly moved, smiled after the interviewer asked her what Gianni would think of her work and said: 'Not good enough'

Tough feedback: During the bittersweet interview, Donatella, clearly moved, smiled after the interviewer asked her what Gianni would think of her work and said: 'Not good enough'

Starring turn: Donatella, pictured in September on the runway with the world's most famous 90s supermodels, showed her first collection for Versace a year after the death of her brother

Starring turn: Donatella, pictured in September on the runway with the world's most famous 90s supermodels, showed her first collection for Versace a year after the death of her brother

The fashion designer, along with other members of the Versace family, previously spoke out against  FX's American Crime Story series about Gianni's murder, The Assasssination Of Gianni Versace, which premiered earlier this month.

Now artistic director and vice-president of the Milan-based Versace fashion group, Donatella said in an interview published by Italian daily la Repubblica earlier this month that the series and a book it draws on contain gossip and contradictions.

'I haven't seen (the series) nor will I see it, because after all this time it still hurts to see Gianni represented untruthfully,' Donatella told the paper.

Earlier in the week the Versace family distanced itself from the TV series about.

In a statement, the family said it has neither authorized nor been involved in the series - but the network has stood by it.

The family statement continued that because no one in the family authorized the book from which the series if partly drawn, or participated in the writing of the screenplay, the series should be considered 'a work of fiction'. 

FX released a response to Versace's family, defending the show by way of stadning by the author who wrote the book on which it is based: 'Like the original American Crime Story series The People vs. OJ Simpson, which was based on Jeffrey Toobin's nonfiction 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 nonfiction best-seller Vulgar Favors, which examined the true life crime spree of Andrew Cunanan. 

'We stand by the meticulous reporting of Ms. Orth.' 

Comments: The Versace family has distanced itself from the new FX TV series chronicling Gianny's 1997 murder. Pictured is Gianni's character, portrayed by Edgar Ramirez, in the series

Comments: The Versace family has distanced itself from the new FX TV series chronicling Gianny's 1997 murder. Pictured is Gianni's character, portrayed by Edgar Ramirez, in the series

Dissent: 'I haven't seen (the series) nor will I see it, because after all this time it still hurts to see Gianni represented untruthfully,' Donatella (pictured left with Gianni) has said
Slaying: Gianni was a victim of serial killer Cunanan, a 27-year-old gay man who had murdered at least four others in a three-month killing spree before turning up at the fashion designer's home

Dissent: 'I haven't seen (the series) nor will I see it, because after all this time it still hurts to see Gianni represented untruthfully,' Donatella (pictured left with Gianni) has said

Gianni was a victim of serial killer Cunanan, a 27-year-old gay man who had murdered at least four others in a three-month killing spree before turning up at the fashion designer's home.

Cunanan was found dead in a Miami houseboat eight days later, apparently shooting himself with the same gun that killed Versace.  

Twenty years on, it is not known whether the murder was planned or carried out at random, leading to much gossip and speculation, including a rumor that Versace may have been murdered by the mafia due to debts he owed to the criminal organisation. 

There was also speculation that Versace may have met his killer years earlier, though family members and the designer's then-boyfriend Antonio D'Amico deny that. 

This wasn't the first time the family has expressed doubts about the American Crime Story, but it was the first time it has released an official statement.

Producer Ryan Murphy said Donatella Versace came to him last summer with concerns about the nine-part series. 

She was particularly concerned about how her children Allegra and Daniel will be depicted, according to W Magazine. They were both very young when her designer brother was murdered. 

Penelope Cruz will play Donatella, and said before filming that she met with her to 'try to capture the essence of who she is.' 

'I didn't want to do an imitation of Donatella, or a caricature,' she told Interview.

'I really hope that when she sees the show, she's going to be happy. I'm sure there are going to be scenes that are hard for her to watch, because it's a lot about the loss of her brother, which, of course, I have so much respect for.

Family: Producer Ryan Murphy previously said Donatella Versace came to him last summer with concerns about the nine-part series. Penelope Cruz is pictured with Edgar Ramirez, portraying Gianni and Donatella in the series

Family: Producer Ryan Murphy previously said Donatella Versace came to him last summer with concerns about the nine-part series. Penelope Cruz is pictured with Edgar Ramirez, portraying Gianni and Donatella in the series

Work: Penelope Cruz plays Donatella in the series
Character: The actress said before filming that she met with Donatella to 'try to capture the essence of who she is'

Work: Penelope Cruz (left) plays Donatella (right) in the series, and said before filming that she met with her to 'try to capture the essence of who she is'

Disagreement: Gianni's partner Antonio D'Amico, who is portrayed by Ricky Martin, has also criticized the series, saying in an interview in June that it won't 'have a trace of reality'

Disagreement: Gianni's partner Antonio D'Amico, who is portrayed by Ricky Martin, has also criticized the series, saying in an interview in June that it won't 'have a trace of reality'

'I did it with all my love. From that place of devastation, she had to keep this company going in his honor. I don't know if she ever said this, but it was a way of keeping him alive.' 

In November Donatella confirmed that she'd spoken with Cruz, but said she has no intention to watch the show. 

Inspiration: The  Assassination of Gianni Versace is based in part on Maureen Orth's book Vulgar Favors

Inspiration: The Assassination of Gianni Versace is based in part on Maureen Orth's book Vulgar Favors

'She is a friend, she said she will treat me with respect - yes but I don't know what will be from a book that says incredible falsehoods,' she said, speaking about the book which the series was partially based on.  

D'Amico, who will be portrayed by Ricky Martin, has also criticized the series, saying in an interview in June that it won't 'have a trace of reality.'  

'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.

After seeing images of the scene showing the moment Versace, 50, was gunned down, the Brindisi-born D'Amico decided to speak out about its apparent 'poetic license'.

'The picture of Ricky Martin holding the body in his arms is ridiculous,' he said, adding that it was like looking at a mimic of Michelangelo's Pietà, which depicts the body of Jesus in the arms of his mother after the crucifixion. 'Maybe it's the director's poetic licence, but that is not how I reacted.' 

Instead, D'Amico says he was barely able to look at Versace's bloodied body after he was shot.

'I felt as if my blood had turned to ice,' he said. He and Versace's butler went outside to investigate.

'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.'  

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Donatella Versace pays tribute to her brother Gianni

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