The Versace family has long denied that Gianni, the original visionary behind the Italian fashion house, was H.I.V. positive when he was murdered in 1997.

So it seems like a bold choice for The Assassination of Gianni Versace: American Crime Story to open its second episode, “Manhunt,” with a scene in which Gianni is treated for the virus—especially given that there have been no major developments about his supposed status since Vanity Fair contributor Maureen Orth first reported Gianni had H.I.V., citing lead Miami Beach detective Paul Scrimshaw, who had seen Gianni’s autopsy results, as her source. So why did the series tackle such a prickly subject so directly?