The public and fans have been wondering and speculating about Tom Ford’s s*xual orientation. The well-known filmmaker and fashion designer has kept some seclusion while being somewhat transparent about his personal life. Tom Ford’s s*xual orientation has been the subject of many questions and suspicions in the media and social groups throughout the years.
Although Ford hasn’t publicly stated his s*xual orientation, speculation, and conversations about his personal life have arisen because of his involvement in the fashion business and his support of LGBTQ+ rights.
Is Tom Ford Gay?
Tom Ford has come out as gay. Richard Buckley, with whom he had a 35-year connection for 7 years until Buckley died in 2021, was out when he was in his late teens. Their son, who is now nine years old, was born to them via a gestational surrogate.
“As for understanding that I was gay, it wasn’t really something that I figured out until my late teens, but then, looking back at my childhood, it all made sense, and I realized that I had actually had crushes on many of my best friends,” the 62-year-old fashion designer said in regards to how he came to terms with his s*xuality. However, “I had girlfriends throughout high school, felt that I was in love with them, and had a great s*x life.”
Ford said, “Even occasionally after I began dating men, I continued to sleep with women off and on, and while definitely gay, I am someone for whom s*x is an expression of affection and love. I fall in love with men most of the time.” After spending 35 years together, the fashion legend and the late Richard Buckley had a son named Jack.
Tom Ford’s Fashion Career
Ford admitted to attending The New School’s Parsons division while looking for jobs after graduation. Still, he kept his architecture degree a secret and claimed that his employment at Chloé was a low-level public relations one.
Ford, who had no prior fashion expertise, called American designer Cathy Hardwick every day for a month in an attempt to get a position at her sportswear company. In the end, Hardwick consented to speak with him.
Later on, she recalled the event, saying, “I had every intention of giving him no hope. I asked him who his favorite European designers were. He said, ‘Armani and Chanel.’ Months later, I asked him why he said that, and he said, ‘Because you were wearing something Armani.’ Is it any wonder he got the job?” “Is it any surprise that he was hired?” For two years, Ford assisted Hardwick with design work.
Ford relocated to Perry Ellis in 1988, where he was socially acquainted with both Marc Jacobs, the company’s designer, and Robert McDonald, the president. After two years of employment, he became disillusioned with working in American fashion.
“I had to leave America if I was ever going to become a good designer,” he said in a subsequent interview with The New York Times. My society was hindering me. In America, too much style is cheesy. It’s considered to be overly fashionable. But style is something that Europeans value.”
As part of a brand makeover, the financially troubled Italian fashion business Gucci was looking to boost its presence in women’s ready-to-wear. According to Dawn Mello, creative director of the brand, “No one would dream of wearing Gucci.”
Ford relocated to Milan after being appointed by Mello as the company’s principal womenswear ready-to-wear designer in 1990. “I was talking to a lot of people, and most didn’t want the job,” Mello stated. “For an American designer to move to Italy to join a company that was far from being a brand would have been pretty risky.” That September, Ford moved to Milan with his longtime lover, fashion journalist Richard Buckley.
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Tom Ford’s Film Career
Ford announced the opening of his film production firm, Fade to Black, in March of 2005. 2009 saw him helm the film A Single Man, which was adapted from Christopher Isherwood’s book of the same name.
Colin Firth plays a gay college lecturer in Los Angeles in the drama, costarring Julianne Moore, Nicholas Hoult, and Matthew Goode. David Scearce and Ford, who were also involved in the production, adapted the novel.
On September 11, 2009, A Single Man made its theatrical debut at the 66th Venice International Film Festival, where it was shortlisted for the prestigious Golden Lion award. For his performance, Colin Firth received the Volpi Cup for Best Actor.
In addition to being nominated for an Academy Award, Golden Globe, Independent Spirit Award, and Screen Actors Guild Award, he received a BAFTA Award for Best Actor in a Leading Role. The movie took home the GLAAD Media Award for Best Wide-Release Film and the AFI Film of the Year.
Two additional Golden Globe nominations for the movie were made for Abel Korzeniowski’s Best Original Score and Julianne Moore’s Best Supporting Actress.
The movie received nominations for Best First Feature and Best First Screenplay at the Independent Spirit Awards. Additionally, Ford and Scearce were nominated for a Broadcast Film Critics Association Award for Best Adapted Screenplay.
