The Million-Dollar Promise That Never Was
Julia Fox’s memoir, Down the Drain, is more than just a tell-all; it’s a deep dive into her short-lived but headline-grabbing affair with Kanye West. Fox, who refers to West solely as “the artist,” reveals how their relationship started off on a high note. “The next day, he puts me in touch with an Italian denim company and they start negotiating on my behalf,” she writes. “I can’t believe this is my life, but I can definitely get used to it.”
This million-dollar deal with an unnamed Italian denim label seemed like a dream come true for Fox. But as they say, all good things must come to an end.
The Paris Trip: A Turning Point
The couple’s trip to Paris for Couture Week marked the end of their honeymoon phase. Fox recalls the paparazzi frenzy outside the Schiaparelli fashion show and their attendance at “an intimate party at designer Rick Owens’s concrete palace.” But it wasn’t all glitz and glamour. The couple began to argue about setting boundaries with their respective friend groups, and West went off the grid for a few weeks.
“It feels jarring to go from so much to nothing at all in such a short span of time,” Fox writes. “I scan his annoying friends’ social media for clues to his whereabouts.”
The Fashion Faux Pas
West, who had a hand in curating Fox’s look—much like he did for his ex-wife, Kim Kardashian—took issue with a flight-attendant piece she wore for a Supreme ad. This disagreement was one of many signs that their relationship was on shaky ground.
The Birthday That Revealed It All
When they reunited for Fox’s birthday, she noticed that West seemed “distant and preoccupied.” He gifted her friends Birkin bags but insisted they reenact unwrapping the gifts for photos.
“We do as we’re told and awkwardly throw our arms up and scream for joy as he stands off in the background, looking on with pride,” Fox writes. “As we pose like puppets, I question his true intentions, feeling that this grand gesture is nothing more than a publicity stunt.”
The Breakup and the Broken Deal
Fox eventually told West she wasn’t having fun anymore and was unhappy with how quickly their relationship had gone public. Shortly after, they called it quits. And just like that, her million-dollar denim deal evaporated. “It’s contingent on you being his girlfriend,” she was told.
The Aftermath
Fox’s memoir serves as a cautionary tale about the fleeting nature of celebrity relationships and the high stakes involved. While she may have lost out on a million-dollar deal, her story offers a priceless look into the complexities of dating in the public eye.
Source: Bustle
