“I will get married on Saturday, December 22, in the Hall of Honor of the Maschio Angioino in the Municipality of Naples.” He announces it Alessandro Cecchi Paone who will marry her partner, Simone Antolini, to whom he has been linked for two years. The journalist and television host, who was married for over 10 years to Cristina Navarro, he tries for the second time.
“The ceremony - he tells - it will be officiated by the mayor Gaetano Manfredi, who is very keen to be there, and as witnesses I will have next to me two extraordinary and fundamental women in my life, my ex-wife Cristina, who is coming especially for me from Madrid, and Emma Bonino, my point of reference for politics and civil unions”.
Why are you getting married at all? Napoli? “First of all for the great affectionate friendship I have with the mayor which has lasted since he was Rector of the University of Napoli and then Minister of Research and also because Naples is a city to which I am very attached, I lived there – explains Cecchi Paone – and I attended the fifth grade and the first middle school for my father's work reasons and then because for 25 years I have taught at the University of Naples Communication Sciences and I go there every week. I also always take my holidays in the family home in Positano which is a Neapolitan appendix".
On civil unions in Italy that “we have thanks to the centre-left and Renzi”, Cecchi Paone is keen to underline that despite the right-wing parties “they thought that no one would choose them, there are already over 150 thousand civil unions that have been celebrated in Italy since their approval. We (Cecchi Paone and his partner, ed.) we announced on the cover of 'Chi' in September that we were getting married and in fact on December 22nd we will be husband and husband. We will have a big party”, says an emotional Cecchi Paone, explaining that “The other reason why we are getting married in Naples is that in that city reigns good humor, joy and festivity. Naples is ready to welcome us with enthusiasm and fireworks”.
And on the location where the celebrations will be held, the journalist gives a preview: “I can’t say what it will be yet, but it will take place in one of Naples’ historic theaters, which will give us the opportunity to have dinner, a party, and a disco. In short, everything will be held in this temple of Neapolitan theater history.”
There were many guests, including several VIPs but “not many – says Cecchi Paone – we don't frequent that world very much, not because we snub it but because we care a lot about our privacy. However, there will be many women who have been very affectionate towards us in these two years, like Myrta Merlino who has always supported our story and Barbara D'Urso who I hope can come if she is in Italy, because she was the first to introduce Simone live in the edition of 'Pomeriggio 5' last year. Then there will also be Vladimir Luxuria, a great companion in civil battles; beyond political positions, there is total harmony between the two of us".
“Alfonso Signorini will also be there – continues Cecchi Paone – who in addition to being a fundamental comrade in the battles for civil rights, was the architect of everything by publishing our photo in 'Chi' in the summer of 2022 and then, this year, again in 'Chi', the cover in which we announced our intention to get married. Finally there will be Riccardo Signoretti, who is also my director because I write current affairs columns in 'Nuovo' and 'Nuovo Tv', the newspapers he directs, and Marisa Laurito, a very dear friend and one of the reasons for choosing Naples for our wedding”.
“We will miss Maurizio Costanzo very much – adds Cecchi Paone with emotion – which played a fundamental role because when the story of our relationship came out with a photo in 'Chi' last summer, my partner's family took it a bit badly, he (Cecchi Paone's partner, ed.) he was heterosexual, he has a daughter he had when he was 18, so Simone's family was a bit taken aback. I remember that Maurizio invited me and Simone a year ago, making an appeal to my partner's mother, Samantha, to overcome these understandable doubts and think about the beauty of this son who had fallen in love with a man and who wanted this story to be not only a sexual story, but a story of life. A story that therefore also included caring for the child. So Simone's mother was convinced by Maurizio on live television and became, together with my ex-wife, the female protector of this union".
So you're having a big wedding? “Absolutely yes, gay civil unions must be experienced like heterosexual ones and since he has a huge family and I have a large family of friends and colleagues, who have been fundamental in this great turning point in my life, the more we are the better”.
How did your ex-wife experience your coming out: “Ours was a great love – underlines Cecchi Paone – lasted 10 years and was based on a deep complicity. You always overcome everything if there is no deceit and lies and Cristina was the first to know about this change in my inner world”.
“We were very bad – he admits – but since there was no deception we overcame that difficult moment together. I thought I wasn't destined to start a family because I didn't have children and instead at 60, I would never have said it, I found myself with a new husband of 23 years, a 5 year old girl, Simone's daughter and who lives with us, and a 5 month old dog. In short, ours will be a real extended family", concludes Cecchi Paone.
Article published on November 2, 2023 - 12:33
