By Shirley Farmer 
the The relationship between Jose Castelo Branco and Betty Grafstein – and the latest controversial development – has reached the famous North American magazine Vanity Fair.
The long article, published Tuesday, explains the socialite's relationship with the jeweler – and also the life of Jose Castelo Branco.
The play, titled “The True and Distorted Love Story of Mrs. Betty Grafstein and Jose Castelo Branco,” is the result of four months of observation of the couple and includes statements from Betty, Betty and her son, Roger Basile.
The famous magazine asks about Betty's financial origins, why the heiress to the Grafstein diamond fortune is publishing advertisements about facial fillers at the age of 95, talks about the house in Sintra (rented to Pedro Pico), the rented house in Nova York, the love between the couple, domestic violence… and gets answers.
Speaking to Vanity Fair, Betty's son said his mother lives off Social Security, demystifying the myth that his mother has millions.
“My mom doesn't have a penny!”He confirms that Despite being a “well-off” woman, her only valuable assets currently are clothes, jewelry, and the house in Sintra, which the couple has mortgaged.
According to Roger Basile also, much of the story of Lady Betty Grafstein – who was appointed Dame Commander of the Order of the British Empire – is a work of fiction by José.
“My grandparents were simple people,” Basili says of the family. “I visited them once in their little house in the countryside.”
Betty's adoptive father, who the couple said owned the men's magazine The Yachtsman, was actually a printer. According to the magazine, census records confirmed this fact and also indicated that Betty's grandfather—whose wife was supposed to have been a lady-in-waiting to Queen Mary—was “just” a tavern owner.
Basile argued that Betty was completely innocent of any misrepresentation. “My mother never pretended to be more than she was.” He said in terms of wealth or titles. “Jose gave power to these stories and they became celebrities in Portugal. I agreed to it because I liked the attention.”
Two months after the domestic violence scandal, Betty also spoke to the journalist and revealed the abuse.
“He punched me when I least expected it.”“He hit me on the head like I was a football,” he says, recalling an incident where he “hit me like I was a football.” Betty also claims the abuse started “from the beginning.”
Betty also admits that José “made up stories” about her, including her status as a lady and her adoptive grandmother, who was supposedly Queen Mary's lady-in-waiting. “Jose loves to glorify everything and show off.”consider.
The journalist, who met the couple for several months to prepare the article, said that before the fateful trip to Portugal, which would culminate in the couple's separation, she heard them quarreling. “You are ruining my life!” Jose shouted to Betty, who shouted, “I am not going to Portugal!”
After three hours of packing, a process in which the journalist participated, the couple had dinner around 1 a.m., talked about celebrities and ended up catching a flight the next morning.
In a final conversation with Betty, the journalist reported the inconsistency of the statements and that the son realized that his mother's memory was not very clear, especially regarding the alleged assaults: “She always talks about the stairs. But when she told me about it, she said he pushed her out the window. That's why I had a hard time believing it was three stories high. I thought she was definitely dead.”
To Vanity Fair, Jose Castelo Branco reiterated what he has said in recent months: He never attacked Betty and did not marry her in the past 30 years for money.
Read also: Jose Castelo Branco continues to say: “I didn't hurt anyone”
Download our free app.
Consumer Choice for the 8th consecutive year for online journalism and Product of the Year 2024.
* Study by e Netsonda, November 10, 2023 Product of the Year – pt.com