Tom Ford Says Yves Saint Laurent Was 'Evil' and 'Jealous'

by Erin Donnelly (Subscribe to Erin Donnelly's posts)
Posted Nov 10th 2009 at 2:55PM

Tom Ford (left) trashes Yves Saint Laurent (right). Photos: Alberto E. Rodriguez, Getty | Ron Galella, WireImage

The (designer) gloves are off!

Yves Saint Laurent may be the highest-earning dead celebrity, but he's not getting much love from designer-turned-director Tom Ford, according to the December/January issue of The Advocate.

In a new interview that's sure to send ol' Yves doing 360s in his grave, Ford -- who won raves and accolades for his work as YSL creative director in the early 2000s -- calls the design legend "evil" and (ouch) "very femmy."

"Being at Yves Saint Laurent was such a negative experience for me even though the business boomed while I was there," Ford told the magazine.

"Yves and his partner, Pierre Bergé, were so difficult and so evil and made my life such misery. I've never talked about this on the record before, but it was an awful time for me.

"Pierre and Yves were just evil. So Yves Saint Laurent doesn't exist for me.

"I have letters from Yves Saint Laurent that are so mean you cannot even believe such vitriol is possible... I just think he was jealous, and Yves and I were friends before I took over the company. But then we began to move the company forward and were very successful...he just became so insanely jealous."

Well, so much for resting in peace. Guess we'll let Ford have the last word on this one because, well...Yves ain't talking.

The juicy interview also features Ford's confession that he uses Botox, plus behind-the-scenes details about his directorial debut, "A Single Man," set to hit theaters in December.

Tom and Yves may have had a rocky relationship, but that doesn't stop the fashion world from getting excited about Ford's upcoming foray into womenswear.

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Filed under: Fashion, News, Designers & Brands
Tags: a single man, advocate, celebrity feud, CelebrityFeud, fashion, fashion feud, pierre berge, PierreBerge, tom ford, tom ford ysl, tom ford yves saint laurent, TomFord, TomFordYsl, ysl, yves saint laurent

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READER COMMENTS

(10)Add A Comment

Heather, 11-10-2009, 3:29PM

Hmm...I think Ford thinks a little too much of himself

Reply »

Saket Sinha, 11-12-2009, 5:24AM

Yes I too think that Ford thinks a bit more about himself... He should be down to earth...

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Tata, 11-12-2009, 11:13AM

Hmmm... I think he is all that and a bag of chips! Shame he is gay, I would have stalked him :)

jarsd43, 11-15-2009, 12:31AM

Oh who cares about this crap? This is insignificant little stuff compared to the real issues in the world. The people in this world of style and glitz should be ashamed of their smallness.

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belazvezda, 11-20-2009, 8:44PM

Oh, yes, there are so many more important things in the world, like sports and pop music. Let's face it. Fashion is not the only superficial thing out there.

parker9090, 11-15-2009, 12:43AM

How sad that Tom Ford feels the need to trash YSL...but it makes for some free publicity for his movie.

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Karen Anne, 11-15-2009, 1:06AM

IF he has these letters, why not show them and PROVE what he's saying! If not, hot air!

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belazvezda, 11-20-2009, 8:42PM

I'd pay a lot to see YSL spinning in his grave. It would be a good trick, since I believe he was cremated.

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smartbrains, 6-30-2010, 3:19AM

Mean? Yves was "mean?" He had his name and his reputation to protect. He was very, very careful about that. And Pierre had the business to oversee, a two billion dollar business. Of course they were not happy about someone whose sole preoccupation was with "what sells." What has Tom Ford created since he left Saint Laurent? Nothing. He keeps selling and selling himself, that's all. It's all "le marketing" for Tom Ford. Nothing else, except for his ego, that is.
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Best Ford Dealer

Reply »

marianne pereira, 11-15-2010, 7:03PM

Pity that Ford should stoop so low to "trash" Saint Laurent.
Especially someone who is now nestling in a jar and unable to
comment or retaliate. I met and interviewed YSL during the launch of "Opium" and he seemed dignified and charming.

Reply »

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