The Versace controversy

HE WAS born in Calabria; his fashion empire was based in Milan; but, by the time he was gunned down this week, Gianni Versace was only notionally Italian. His designs were worn by rich and glamorous people all over the world; he had become internationally famous himself; his work mixed images and ideas from every culture. He had few roots; he was a citizen of the world; in short, he had become American. It was only fitting that, like John Lennon 17 years ago, he should die in America and in an American way, shot in cold blood on his own doorstep, apparently by a weird gunman.