Barney’s Top Gay Simon Doonan Takes Mandatory ‘Promotion’

Simon Doonan, the ubiquitous Barney’s creative director, has been pushed out of the post he’s held for 25 years. From his tony position, Doonan has turned himself into a culture critic, writing whimsical New York Observer columns and popping up on VH1 talking head shows. He also, REPORTEDLY!, barely shows up at the office. But Barney’s new chief Mark Lee, who took over last fall from Gucci and has already ousted two other execs, is replacing Doonan with former W creative director Dennis Freedman. Not that Doonan, whose partner is the home designer (and white porcelain obsessed) Jonathan Adler, is a complete goner: He’ll hold the title of creative ambassador-at-large, which will at least let Doonan have a business card to flash around while he shops for a new gig.