Nightlife titans Richie Akiva and Darren Dzienciol in nasty split
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New York City nightlife titans Richie Akiva and Darren Dzienciol have suffered a nasty split, Page Six hears.
And they did battle at the Cannes Film Festival, throwing rival A List bashes under a cloud of acrimony.
Akiva opened the legendary 1Oak nightclub in 2007 with fellow club impresario, Zero Bond members club owner Scott Sartiano.
Meanwhile, Dzienciol rose to the top of the nightlife biz in Los Angeles. They joined forces to open 10ak in L.A. in 2014.
Sartiano and Akiva — a longtime BFF of Leo DiCaprio and now head of the sceney club at The Ned hotel in New York — already split and had a $15 million court battle over 1Oak in 2018.
But Akiva and Dzienciol ploughed on, throwing famed parties for such ultra glam occasions as the Oscars and the amfAR gala.
Now we hear things have gone sideways between them, too, and they split after this year’s Oscar party.
Akiva and Dzienciol opened 10ak in Los Angeles together in 2014. Photo by Matt Winkelmeyer/Getty Images for UCLA Institute of the Environment & Sustainability
But the schism got ugly in Cannes late last month when both men decided to go ahead with an after-amFAR party there anyway.
Dzienciol caused a stir by posting a conspicuous Instagram slide saying, “Out with the old, in with the new.”
“He was instigating an immature feud,” said one source close to Akiva. “It’s silly. There was no bad blood until Darren started posting these bitter social media stories.” (Sources in the Dzienciol camp say there was plenty of bad blood, social media sniping or no).
Akiva at the mfAR Cannes Gala 2023 on May 25, 2023 in Cap d’Antibes, France. Photo by Lionel Hahn/Getty Images for Aston Martin
Dzienciol attending an event in Cannes with Sophie Stray on May 22, 2023. Dave Benett/Getty Images for HUGO BOSS
Another source said: “Richie isn’t the type of person to engage in comments and Instagram wars.” They added: “Imitation is always the highest form of flattery. Richie’s close friends know he is more disappointed than anything else [about the breakup], especially after all the doors he opened for Darren.”
But perhaps the most telling moment came when Akiva made a major play, claiming that Johnny Depp — by far the standout star of the festival, whose “Jeanne Du Barry” won him a seven-minute ovation — was to host his party.
But, it seems, the superstar never showed up, never mind hosted.
Akiva at his amFAR afterparty on May 25, 2023. Shutterstock
Meanwhile, Akiva mainstay DiCaprio did turn out for his party at the sprawling Domaine La Dilecta estate, as did “Pussy Posse” partner Tobey Maguire, as well as Orlando Bloom, Halsey, Queen Latifah, Robin Thicke, James Marsden, Elon’s mom Maye Musk, and numerous models.
We hear the party raged till past 7 a.m. with performances by Chase B and DJ Zack Bia, Keinemusik, and DJ Cruz.
Meanwhile, Dzienciol’s affair at the equally luxe Domaine de L’Ansa drew Kate Beckinsale, Adam Lambert, Alton Mason, Starino, Teyana Taylor, Lucien Laviscount, Winnie Harlow, Wallis Day, Elsa Hosk, Natasha Poly, James Marsden, Izabel Goulart, Stassi Karanikolaou, Kyle Kuzma and Carol Mendes among others.
Source: Page Six
