Pulled From The Met
Top fashion designer John Galliano announced Monday he has withdrawn from a planned exhibition of his work at New York's Metropolitan Museum of Art, following criticism from donors and political leaders over his past antisemitic remarks. "After much reflection and discussion with all those involved, I have decided, with great sadness, that it is best for the exhibition not to take place at this time," Galliano wrote on Instagram.
A French court convicted Galliano in 2011 of making racist and antisemitic comments after he hurled Jewish and Asian slurs at a Paris bar. The Briton, famed for his flamboyant personality and daring designs, was also fired from his job as creative director of Dior after the incident surfaced. The Met had planned a nine-month exhibition of his work next May, but high-profile Jewish figures voiced opposition this month.
"I do not want the debate surrounding me to place the Met in a difficult position or to distract from the remarkable work of the Costume Institute," Galliano said. "I also recognize and respect that an exhibition honoring my work would be painful for some."
Wintour weighs in
Anna Wintour, the fashion icon and ex-Vogue editor who is a trustee of the Met, expressed her "full support" for Galliano and the museum. "John's decision that the exhibition devoted to his work should not take place at this time is very courageous and a measure of the man he is," she said.
After Dior, Galliano took the reins as creative director at Maison Margiela, stepping down in 2024 after 10 years which helped recover his scandal-tainted image. In March, he signed a two-year creative contract with Spanish retailer Zara.