Maria Rosaria Boccia: “I thought Sigfrido was jealous of me, but we never kissed. Let me tell you about my book”

Rome. After the bombshell, the kiss. Another romantic asterisk between the words ‘ti-candido’? “No. There was affection between Sigfrido and me. A great deal of it. But there was never a physical relationship,” entrepreneur Maria Rosaria Boccia tells Il Foglio. No kisses, then. Not even a chaste one or a light peck on the lips. Like between siblings or friends. “No. As I’d already written in the book – well before the *Libero* article – I always met Sigfrido in the presence of my solicitor and he in the presence of his security detail. Never alone. Physical contact was limited to the perfectly normal kiss of greeting that two friends might exchange when they meet or part.” I see. Can you explain, then, where the AI-generated image came from, in which you are actually kissing Ranucci? “That image comes from one of the fake satirical front pages that he and I used to enjoy creating and exchanging privately. The kissing scene is fabricated: I have never kissed Ranucci. Having said that...” 

“Having said that, the interesting thing is that it was all already written in the book.” What do you say about this in the book? “I describe our fake front pages as a sort of contemporary satirical pamphlet. A way of using irony to subvert the language of the newspapers that often wrote about us. After one of these creations of mine, Sigfrido even wrote to me: ‘ANYWAY, YOU SHOULD BE RUNNING A NEWSPAPER’”. Or a column in *Il Fatto*. That would not be half bad, that is for sure. “You’re kind. However, there remains one question I can’t answer: if the photograph Lavitola was supposedly talking about was actually this one, how did it leak out of our private conversation and how did it end up with him?” Perhaps Sigfrido sent it to him in a chat? “Perhaps. But speaking of chats, when we were messaging each other, we used to joke a lot about courtship, jealousy, misunderstandings… In the book, I acknowledge that, by taking certain phrases out of context, you could construct almost any romantic novel.” And perhaps rekindle the jealousy of his partner, Laura Cianfoni? “I can recount what I experienced, not confirm Laura’s feelings.” Tell us about it. “In the book, I actually joke about the fact that the ‘jealousy meter’ doesn’t exist: there are words, behaviours, tones – and then the interpretation of the person receiving them.” Was Laura jealous? “On the evening of 27 May 2025, I received a message from her which I interpreted as containing insinuations about the nature of my relationship with Sigfrido. It struck me because I was already going through a very complex personal and legal situation and had no intention of getting involved in a love triangle. I clarified the nature of my relationship with him and then chose to distance myself from that dynamic.”

As you are well aware, a woman—especially if she has been neglected—is highly attuned to her surroundings. In that case, was Laura in the wrong? “All I can say is that I never asked Sigfrido to choose between me and her, and I never would have. In the book, however, I write something I believe in very strongly: relationships based on possession create boundaries; friendships based on respect create doors”. The book "Guai a chi lo tocca – Io, Sigfrido e le tempeste" is hot off the press. There’s a Don Juan-esque chapter, isn’t there? “Yes. But I wouldn’t exactly call it a chapter on ‘Ranucci’s women’. Rather, I describe the human landscape that forms around our friendship. There’s Laura, but Gimmy Cangiano, Giletti, Cerno, Nicola and my solicitor also feature… And here I can give you a sneak preview of a funny episode I haven’t mentioned until now.” Tell me. “When Nicola comes into my life, he inevitably starts cropping up in my conversations with Sigfrido too…” Nicola Cantone, a manager in the healthcare sector, is a man dear to Maria Rosaria’s heart. “At one point,” Boccia continues, “I even set up a WhatsApp group with the three of us, where we shared our fake front pages. I’d write something, Nicola would reply, and Sigfrido would see it and say nothing.” Ah. It’s not the one who says ‘I love you’ who loves you, but the one who looks at you and says nothing? “Well, in the book I say there were a hundred rational explanations for that silence and that I, naturally, chose the hundred-and-first.” Meaning? “‘Sigfrido was jealous.’ It’s a joke, mind you, not a diagnosis. This is my ‘jealousy meter’: Laura perhaps jealous of me, according to my perception. Sigfrido might have been jealous of Nicola, according to my sense of irony. But you see, I never claim to know what goes on in other people’s heads.” No. The absolutely hilarious book cover, however, with Ranucci dressed as Superman – did you come up with that yourself? “Yes, I did it all on my own. Having personally experienced leaks, I wanted at least this project to see the light of day before it was revealed by others. My family, believe it or not, only found out about the book after the ANSA report came out. I hadn’t said a word to protect a project in which I’d invested time, resources and emotions. I’m glad you like the cover. After all, I’ve also got a rather authoritative early review.” Which one? “The one from my Superman! He’d already written to me saying I could run a newspaper!”

Many were quick to quip yesterday that she’s the real ‘superwoman’ – the one who kisses him and transforms him. In any case, does her Superman still feel her love? “Of course. We spoke yesterday morning, yesterday evening, and again this morning.” And how did he take the publication? “He hasn’t read it yet. But why would he take it badly? He knows how much I love him. That doesn’t mean I’ve written a hagiography, mind you. I also recount arguments, disagreements, moments when Superman loses some of his superpowers. But do you know what upsets me?” What? “That a book in which I try to portray the beautiful side of feelings and friendship could be immediately dragged under the sheets. Reducing everything to a kiss or an alleged relationship would strike me as rather shallow.” Even if that were the case, Maria Rosaria, a kiss sets things alight but it’s not a bomb. There would have been no harm in it, would there? “I have a very simple idea. Judge Ranucci as a journalist. Ask all the necessary questions about his work. But as for the man himself, when there’s no concrete public interest, leave him ‘alone’.”