Versace Family Condemns Ryan Murphy’s The Assassination of Gianni Versace: American Crime Story

Ryan Murphy’s Emmy- and Golden Globe-winning anthology series American Crime Story’s second season is set to premiere on Jan. 17 on FX. The second season covers famed fashion designer Gianni Versace’s murder and the events leading up to it.

According to THR, the Versace family has released a statement disavowing the show: “The Versace family has neither authorized nor had any involvement whatsoever in the forthcoming TV series about the death of Mr. Gianni Versace.” The family also said in their statement, “Since Versace did not authorize the book on which it is partly based nor has it taken part in the writing of the screenplay, this TV series should only be considered as a work of fiction.” Murphy pulled from Vanity Fair writer Maureen Orth’s book titled Vulgar Favors: Andrew Cunanan, Gianni Versace, and the Largest Failed Manhunt in U.S. History for the new season’s story.

Murphy follows The People v. O.J. Simpson: American Crime Story with The Assassination of Gianni Versace: American Crime Story, starring Edgar Ramirez as Gianni Versace, Oscar winner Penelope Cruz as his sister Donatella, Ricky Martin as Versace’s long-time partner Antonio D’Amico and Glee star Darren Criss as the accused murderer Andrew Cunanan.

In order to get the fashion right for the series, costume designer Lou Eyrich bought hundreds of vintage Versace pieces from around the world to design the costumes appropriately. The Versace family provided no support in helping to design the clothes for the show.

Watch the trailer for The Assassination of Gianni Versace: American Crime Story right here.