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The Ultimate Betrayal: 7 Shocking Secrets Behind Capote Vs. The Swans And The Feud That Destroyed High Society

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The dramatic and devastating social war between literary giant Truman Capote and his coterie of glamorous, elite friends—dubbed "The Swans"—has resurfaced as one of the most talked-about cultural events of the last year, thanks to its high-profile dramatization. As of December 24, 2025, the buzz around the FX series Feud: Capote vs. The Swans, which premiered earlier this year, has reignited fascination with the ultimate act of social betrayal in New York's high society, proving that the secrets of the ultra-rich, once spilled, never truly dry. The true story is a dark, tragic tale of ego, alcoholism, and the fatal consequences of turning friendship into fiction, centered on Capote's unfinished "magnum opus," Answered Prayers.

This deep dive explores the core entities, the devastating secrets revealed in the infamous short story that caused the fallout, and how the author’s attempt to write the great American novel ultimately led to his social and personal ruin. The core of the conflict rests on a single, explosive 1975 publication that exposed the most intimate, scandalous details of the women who had taken Capote into their exclusive, gilded world—a betrayal that would cost him everything.

Truman Capote: A Brief Profile of the Literary Genius

Truman Garcia Capote, born Truman Streckfus Persons in New Orleans in 1924, was a celebrated American novelist, short story writer, and playwright.

Key Biographical Details:

  • Born: September 30, 1924, New Orleans, Louisiana.
  • Died: August 25, 1984, Los Angeles, California.
  • Literary Style: Pioneer of Southern Gothic and non-fiction novel (true crime).
  • Major Works: Breakfast at Tiffany's (1958) and the groundbreaking true-crime account In Cold Blood (1966).
  • Social Peak: Hosted the legendary 1966 Black and White Ball at the Plaza Hotel, an event widely considered the "Party of the Century," solidifying his place as the ultimate social arbiter.
  • The Swans: A term he coined for his inner circle of glamorous, wealthy New York socialites, whom he saw as muses and confidantes.

Capote’s unique talent and flamboyant personality allowed him to bridge the gap between high art and high society. He was an intimate presence in the lives of the world's most beautiful and powerful women, a position he would ultimately exploit for his literary ambition.

The Swans: Capote's Gilded Circle of Friends and Muses

The "Swans" were the epitome of mid-century American and international glamour, style, and wealth. They represented the peak of aspiration—women whose lives were curated works of art. Capote's closeness to them allowed him access to the secrets of their private lives, which he ruthlessly documented in his planned novel, Answered Prayers.

The Primary Swans and Their Fates

Capote's most prominent muses, and the women most devastated by his betrayal, included:

  • Babe Paley (Barbara Cushing Mortimer Paley): Considered Capote’s favorite and the ultimate American Swan. She was a fashion icon and the wife of CBS founder William S. Paley. Her marriage secrets were the most devastatingly exposed.
  • Slim Keith (Mary Raye Gross): A legendary socialite, known for her sharp wit and impeccable style. She was instrumental in introducing Capote to the inner circles of Hollywood and New York.
  • C.Z. Guest (Lucy Douglas Cochrane Guest): An American socialite, fashion designer, and columnist known for her classic, aristocratic style. She was one of the few who maintained a degree of distance from Capote after the scandal.
  • Lee Radziwill (Caroline Lee Bouvier): The younger sister of Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis, known for her association with European aristocracy and her own tumultuous personal life.
  • Gloria Guinness (Gloria Rubio y Alatorre): A Mexican-born European socialite and fashion icon, known for her exceptional elegance and influence in international high society.

Other notable figures in Capote's orbit who were also affected included Pamela Harriman, Gloria Vanderbilt, Carol Matthau, and his loyal friend Joanne Carson.

The Ultimate Betrayal: 7 Shocking Secrets Revealed in "La Côte Basque 1965"

The point of no return came in November 1975, with the publication of the short story "La Côte Basque 1965" in Esquire magazine. This piece was intended as an excerpt from Capote's highly anticipated novel, Answered Prayers, which he had promised would be his greatest work. The story was a roman à clef, a novel with a key, where thinly veiled fictional characters were instantly recognizable as his closest friends.

The betrayal was not just in revealing secrets, but in the malicious, gossipy tone Capote used to describe the women who had trusted him.

1. The Babe Paley Affair and Suicide Attempt

The most shocking revelation concerned Capote's favorite Swan, Babe Paley. The story detailed how a character based on Babe discovered her powerful husband's long-term affair with a New York politician's wife, a revelation that drove the fictional character to a suicide attempt. This was a thinly veiled account of William S. Paley's infidelity, which was a closely guarded secret in their marriage.

2. The Murder Cover-Up

The story included a gruesome, yet fictionalized, account of a socialite who, with her husband, covered up a murder. While the details were fictionalized, the implication was clear that the wealthy elite operated outside the law, painting a picture of moral decay.

3. Slim Keith's Reputation

A character clearly based on Slim Keith was portrayed in a deeply unflattering light, exposing her calculated social maneuvers and romantic history, which Slim found unforgivable.

4. The Toilet Stall Encounter

In a particularly vulgar section, Capote described a fictionalized version of a prominent socialite having a sexual encounter in a public bathroom stall. Though the identity was masked, the salacious detail was instantly traceable to his circle, causing widespread humiliation.

5. The Financial Secrets and Husbands' Infidelity

The piece mercilessly exposed the financial dependence of the Swans on their powerful husbands, detailing the extramarital affairs and the quid-pro-quo nature of their marriages—a reality the women desperately tried to keep private.

6. The 'Cult to Hate Truman'

The immediate fallout was catastrophic. The Swans, led by the deeply wounded Babe Paley and Slim Keith, immediately ostracized Capote, cutting him off completely. As one friend noted, a "cult to hate Truman" formed overnight.

7. The Destruction of Capote's Magnum Opus

The scandal did not just destroy his friendships; it destroyed his career. The public reaction was so harsh, and the subsequent social isolation so profound, that Capote never finished Answered Prayers. He spent the last decade of his life battling alcoholism and drug addiction, unable to complete the novel he believed would be his masterpiece. The unfinished manuscript was published posthumously, a tragic testament to a genius destroyed by his own hubris.

The story of Capote vs. The Swans remains a cautionary tale about the price of ambition and the delicate line between art and life. The FX series, with its all-star cast, serves as a fresh reminder of how one writer's pursuit of truth shattered the most glittering social circle of the 20th century.

capote vs the swans
capote vs the swans

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