The Columbus Dispatch

A White House holiday

Décor honors COVID-19 frontline workers

- Darlene Superville

WASHINGTON – Holiday decoration­s unveiled Monday for Joe and Jill Biden’s first White House Christmas honor frontline workers who persevered during the COVID-19 pandemic. h Nurses, doctors, teachers, grocery store workers and others are recognized in this year’s gigantic Gingerbrea­d White House, which was made into a 350-pound (158.76 kilograms) gingerbrea­d village with the addition of a school and police, fire and gas stations as well as a hospital, a post office, a grocery store and a warehouse to honor workers who stayed on the job. h Fewer people are likely to see the decked-out mansion in person this year, with public tours still suspended because of the continuing threat from COVID-19.

But videos, photos and other details are available at Whitehouse.gov/holidays.

They also said they reserve the right to “Take any action necessary to protect the name, image and dignity of themselves and their loved ones.”

The Gucci family has not been involved with the Gucci fashion house since 1993, when Maurizio sold his remaining stake to the Bahrain-based company, Investcorp. It was later bought by the French group PPR, which is now Kering.

Scott has previously defended himself and his film against criticisms from the Guccis, including Patrizia Gucci’s comment to The Associated Press that they were, “stealing the identity of a family to make a profit.”

Patrizia Gucci is the daughter of Paolo Gucci and granddaugh­ter of Aldo

Gucci.

“You have to remember that one Gucci was murdered and another went to jail for tax evasion, so you can’t be talking to me about making a profit,” Scott said last week in an interview with BBC Radio. “As soon as you do that, you become part of the public domain.”

A representa­tive for Scott said there was, “nothing to add.” The studio, MGM, did not have any comment either.

The family aren’t the only ones close to the story who are commenting on the filmmaking choices. Designer and filmmaker Tom Ford, who was the creative director of Gucci from 1994 to 2004 and is depicted in the film, wrote a piece for Air Mail in which he likened the experience to living through a hurricane.

“It is hard for me to divorce reality from the glossy, heavily lacquered soap opera that I witnessed on-screen,” Ford wrote. “As with most films based on a true story, facts are altered, characters are exaggerate­d, timelines warped – and, in the end, who cares as long as these alteration­s yield a great movie?

I was deeply sad for several days after watching ‘House of Gucci,’ a reaction that I think only those of us who knew the players and the play will feel. It was hard for me to see the humor and camp in something that was so bloody. In real life, none of it was camp. It was at times absurd, but ultimately it was tragic.”

The fashion house cooperated with “House of Gucci,” opening its archives to the film company for wardrobe and props. Salma Hayek, the wife of Kering CEO Francois-henri Pinault, appears in the film as Giuseppina “Pina” Auriemma, a psychic who becomes Reggiani’s friend and accomplice. Leto is a close friend of creative director Alessandro Michele. And many of the stars have worn Gucci at various events supporting the film.

 ?? EVAN VUCCI/AP ?? The State Dining Room of the White House is decorated for the holiday season during a press preview of the White House holiday decoration­s.
EVAN VUCCI/AP The State Dining Room of the White House is decorated for the holiday season during a press preview of the White House holiday decoration­s.

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