When Donatella Versace lost her brother Gianni in 1997 to a tragic murder outside his Miami home, she vowed to carry on his legacy.
Despite her grief, she stepped into the role of creative director, ensuring the Versace name remained one of the most recognizable in luxury fashion.
Over nearly three decades, she built on Gianni’s vision, cementing her own place as a fashion icon.
But now, a shocking shake-up has pushed her out of the very empire she dedicated her life to.
Officially, Donatella is moving into a new role as the ‘Chief Brand Ambassador’ for Versace.
Behind the scenes, however, sources claim she was deliberately sidelined in a strategic move to sell the company to Prada.
The Hidden Plot to Oust Donatella
While the official announcement made it seem like a smooth transition, insiders reveal a different story.
According to sources close to the situation, Versace’s CEO Emmanuel Gintzburger and Capri Holdings’ chairman John D. Idol orchestrated her removal, replacing her with Dario Vitale, a former design director for Miu Miu.
The alleged goal? To clear the path for an easier sale of Versace to Prada after the company’s profits plummeted during the pandemic.
Even more shocking, Donatella was reportedly kept in the dark about these conversations, making the betrayal all the more painful.
“She’s been dethroned in the most terrible way,” one industry insider shared.
“She didn’t think she’d hold onto this throne forever, but the way they pushed her out was brutal.”
A Carefully Crafted Public Announcement
On the surface, the transition was announced with polished professionalism.
Versace’s Instagram post on Thursday described Donatella’s new role as one dedicated to “philanthropic and charitable endeavors” while remaining an “advocate for the brand globally.”
Fashion experts, however, see through the carefully worded statement.
Many believe this move was nothing more than a diplomatic way of pushing her aside, reducing her influence while the men in charge proceed with their plans to offload the company.
Behind closed doors, tensions had been simmering for some time.
Employees found themselves split into two camps: “Team Donatella” and “Team John and Emmanuel.”
Insiders claim that if she had been part of the decision-making process, this forced exit would never have happened.
The 2018 Sale That Led to the Downfall
Donatella’s exit didn’t happen overnight. The first cracks in her reign appeared in 2018 when Capri Holdings—owners of Jimmy Choo and Michael Kors—acquired Versace for £1.64 billion.
Donatella entered the deal hoping it would secure the future of the brand and preserve Gianni’s legacy.
However, as time went on, Versace’s profits struggled to recover from the pandemic.
By February, Capri Holdings admitted Versace had suffered a double-digit sales drop in the previous quarter.
Insiders claim that rather than taking accountability, executives pinned the blame on Donatella, looking for a quick sale before things got worse.
“They ran out of excuses,” one source revealed. “The strategy failed, and instead of fixing it, they decided to sell.
And they wanted Donatella out of the way first.”
Donatella’s Influence in the Fashion World
Despite this boardroom betrayal, Donatella remains one of the most respected figures in the industry.
She has been instrumental in keeping Versace relevant, attracting a younger generation by collaborating with A-list stars like Lil Nas X, Taylor Swift, and Beyoncé.
She also cultivated long-standing relationships with Hollywood royalty, including Angelina Jolie, Anne Hathaway, Sir Elton John, and Madonna.
With over 12 million Instagram followers, Donatella is the most-followed fashion designer in the world—a testament to her enduring influence.
What’s Next for Versace?
With talks of a sale to Prada intensifying, the future of Versace remains uncertain.
On Friday, reports emerged that Prada CEO Andrea Guerra flew to New York to discuss a deal that would unite two of Italy’s most prestigious fashion houses.
Many in the industry predict tensions will soon rise between Idol and Gintzburger, possibly leading to more leadership shake-ups.
While Donatella may find some satisfaction in watching their struggle, the betrayal still stings.
“She was the heart of Versace,” said one employee.
“She built a family-like environment for staff, and she was always supportive. Now, she’s been forced out in the worst way possible.”
For now, Donatella remains graceful in the face of adversity, but her exit marks the end of an era for Versace.
Whether the brand thrives or crumbles without her remains to be seen.