Michele Carfora Recalls Marriage to Barbara D’Urso
Dancer and theater actor Michele Carfora described his past marriage to television host Barbara D’Urso as a youth mistake, according to an interview published in Evening Courier and detailed by Libero. Carfora, now 57 and originario di Salerno with blond hair and blue eyes that make him look Nordic, was married to D’Urso from 2002 to 2006. The relationship drew intense media coverage at the time due to a decade-long age gap, earning him the label of baby-husband in gossip columns. Their relation began in 2000. Today, Carfora teaches musical theater, dance, and acting across Italy and is the father of a 14-year-old daughter born from a subsequent relationship, Libero reported. He asserted that she accused him of betrayal even though they had broken up six months prior, while also noting that in the collective imagination he was remembered especially as her cheating former husband, calling it a cross he will carry forever.
Career Background and the 2002 Wedding
Before and after their high-profile wedding in September 2002, Carfora built a three-decade career on stage. He has worked alongside prominent figures including Lino Banfi, Lorella Cuccarini, Giampiero Ingrassia, and Bianca Guaccero, under the direction of Massimo Ranieri and Saverio Marconi, with choreography by Franco Miseria. Despite this extensive theatrical background, Carfora stated to Evening Courier that his professional identity remains overshadowed by his former marriage, a cross he feels he will always carry. He asserted that D’Urso gained career momentum following their union, noting she transitioned to hosting Big Brother after a year of heavy magazine cover appearances, whereas previously she had worked as a television showgirl under Pippo Baudo on Sunday In. He stated: If she had a career she has to thank me, until then she had not been successful, on TV she had been Pippo Baudo’s assistant on Domenica In
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Television Disputes and the 2013 Reunion
The marriage ended in a lengthy legal battle that concluded with a divorce in 2008. Carfora recounted that the fallout severely impacted his theatrical work, as musical productions avoided casting him due to the ongoing media dispute with his ex-wife. An unexpected reconciliation occurred in 2013 when Carfora appeared as a guest on Canale 5’s Sunday Live, which D’Urso hosted. He explained that he was called at the last minute to replace another actor for the musical Solo tu featuring Matia Bazar music.
Current Perspectives on Barbara D’Urso and Dancing with the Stars
Addressing D’Urso’s current role as a judge on the dance talent show Dancing with the Stars following her departure from Mediaset, Carfora offered a pointed critique. He questioned the expertise of the panel, suggesting that apart from a few exceptions, the judges lack deep competence in dance. Carfora also described his former wife as ambitious, possessive, and someone who stops at nothing to achieve her goals. He mentioned an unresolved dispute regarding an emerald ring mounted on yellow gold that belonged to his late mother, which he claims was never returned to him after her legal representation stated it was lost in a house burglary.