Dolce & Gabbana: 'It wasn't our intention to judge other people's choices'

Dolce & Gabbana have claimed that it was “never their intention” to judge other people’s choices with their anti-gay comments.

In an interview with Italian news magazine Panorama, the designers, who split after a long relationship in 2005, strongly spoke out against same-sex parents, saying that “the only family is the traditional one” and “things should not be changed”.

A number of celebrities including Ricky Martin, Elton John and Victoria Beckham criticised the designers comments, with John calling on the LGBT community to boycott the brand. Find out more here.

In a statement made today (March 16), the duo told The Guardian that they were talking about “their personal views,” and never intend for their remarks to cause offence.

“I was talking about my personal view, without judging other people’s choices and decisions,” said Dolce. “I’m Sicilian and I grew up in a traditional family, made up of a mother, a father and children.

He continued: “I am very well aware of the fact that there are other types of families and they are as legitimate as the one I’ve known… But in my personal experience, family had a different configuration. That is the place where I learnt the values of love and family.”

Gabbana went on to add: “It was never our intention to judge other people’s choices. We do believe in freedom and love. We firmly believe in democracy and the fundamental principle of freedom of expression that upholds it.”

Despite their apology, the pair have made numerous comments against LGBT families in the past. In 2006, Gabbana told The Daily Mail that he was “opposed” to the idea of same-sex parents raising a child.

Meanwhile, in 2013, when asked if they had ever intended to marry, Dolce told The Telegraph that he is “doesn’t believe” in gay marriage.