The heirs of Italian fashion house Gucci have criticised a new film for allegedly depicting members of the family as “hooligans”.
House of Gucci stars Lady Gaga as Patrizia Reggiani, who was convicted of having her former husband, fashion heir Maurizio Gucci, assassinated in 1995.
The family has taken aim at the film in a letter first published by Italy’s ANSA news agency and seen by the BBC.
Director Ridley Scott has been contacted for comment.
‘Ignorant and insensitive’
In their statement, the family said they were portrayed as “ignorant” in the film, which stars Adam Driver as Maurizio Gucci alongside Jared Leto and Al Pacino as other members of the family.
“The Gucci family reserve the right to take every initiative to protect their name and image, and those of their loved ones,” the letter read.
They added that Aldo Gucci (played by Pacino), who was company chairman from 30 years, and other relatives were portrayed “as thugs, ignorant and insensitive to the world around them, attributing to the protagonists [and] events, a tone and an attitude that never belonged to them.
“This is extremely painful from a human point of view and an insult to the legacy on which the brand is built today.”
The family stated that Reggiani “is portrayed not just in the film, but also in statements from cast members, as a victim trying to survive in a male and male chauvinist corporate culture”.
“This couldn’t be further from the truth,” the statement continued, with the family describing the business when they were at the helm as being “an inclusive company”.
The Gucci family have not themselves been connected to the fashion house since the 1990s.
No legal action is currently being taken by the family against the film and its producers.
Patrizia Gucci has recently accused the director of “stealing the identity of a family to make a profit”.