Italy's junior culture minister Vittorio Sgarbi just resigned from his post in the middle of ongoing investigations launched against him, following ownership allegations of a stolen painting made by the 17th-century Italian master Rutilio Manetti.
In addition to this scandal, Sgarbi has also gotten under fire for conflict of interests and death threats that he made against an Italian reporter.
The End to Vittorio Sgarbi's Controversy-Stricken Position
Sgarbi announced his resignation during the sidelines of a Milan event last Friday, Feb. 2, saying, "I am resigning effective immediately as undersecretary and will inform [Italian Prime Minister Giorgia] Meloni."
According to Italian news outlet ANSA, Sgarbi has been the subject of an investigation by the country's antitrust authority for potential conflict of interest in light of allegedly receiving significant sums in exchange for appearing at certain cultural events.
Last Friday, Sgarbi explained that the antitrust authority barred him from partaking in art conferences, like the one in Milan, through a "complex and confusing letter. Because of this, the 71-year-old art critic will now be stepping down.
"From now on, I am Vittorio Sgarbi and that's it," he noted.
In a separate controversy, Sgarbi found himself in another investigation that was handled by local authorities from Macerata for his alleged laundering of Manetti's painting, which was previously stolen over a decade ago.
This particular probe followed an initial investigation launched by the Italian media outlet Il Fatto Quotidiano back in December, which was the first to accuse Sgarbi of possessing the stolen 17th-century piece and altering some of its details to hide remnants of the theft.
In one of his latest scandals, Sgarbi was once again on the receiving end of a public outcry after ruthlessly insulting and sending death threats to a journalist who was asking him about the ensuing probes.
"If you die in a car accident, I'll be happy. I hope you have an accident... you disgust me," exclaimed Sgarbi, as seen in La Repubblica's Report.
Sgarbi then withdrew his threats during the Milan event, saying, "I withdraw my death wish, I apologize for thinking that, and now I am no longer an undersecretary."
"From now on, I will wish death without being responsible for being undersecretary," he added.
