Fashion designer John Galliano has cancelled a major upcoming exhibition at New York’s Metropolitan Museum of Art, acknowledging that the retrospective would have caused pain to many. The exhibition, titledJohn Galliano: Horizonshad been scheduled to open in May 2027 and was intended to serve as the theme for the museum’s annual gala.
Galliano announced his decision on Monday, stating that after significant reflection and discussions with the museum, he concluded it was best for the event not to proceed. He expressed that he did not want to distract from the work of the Met’s Costume Institute and admitted he understood that an exhibition honoring his career would be painful for some. His statement also highlighted his 15 years of sobriety and recovery from addiction.
Background on the 2011 Controversy
- The IncidentIn 2011, Galliano was dismissed as creative director of Dior following a public incident in a Paris restaurant where he was found guilty of abusing a Jewish curator.
- Legal FindingsDuring court proceedings, it was revealed that he had directed racist insults at the curator’s companion, who was of South Asian origin, and had made comments expressing a love for Hitler.
- DefenseAt the time of the trial, his legal team attributed his actions to work-related stress and multiple addictions.
The designer emphasized that he remains fully accountable for the harm his past words caused, particularly to the Jewish and Asian communities. He noted that meaningful atonement cannot be achieved through institutional recognition or a single public gesture, but rather through ongoing conduct, listening, and learning.
The planned exhibition and the associated Met Gala—scheduled for May 3, which coincides with Yom HaShoah—had drawn sharp criticism from public figures and advocacy groups. Julie Menin, speaker of the New York City Council, welcomed the cancellation, stating that the museum’s initial plan had been a “gut punch” to the Jewish community during a period of rising antisemitism. She described the reversal as the correct decision.
Jonathan Greenblatt, chief executive of the Anti-Defamation League, also praised the outcome. He remarked that with antisemitism at crisis levels, honoring the designer was misguided, adding that Galliano ultimately recognized what the museum should have done from the start. Despite the controversy, Galliano retains support from influential figures in the industry, including Vogue global editorial director Anna Wintour. Wintour, a trustee of the Met, called his decision to withdraw “courageous” and stated that both he and the museum have her full support.
Following his 2011 conviction, Galliano eventually returned to the fashion industry, serving as the creative director for Margiela for a decade until 2024. He is widely considered by many in the fashion world to be one of the most significant designers of his era. The report also notes that coinciding with Yom HaShoah (Holocaust and Heroism Remembrance Day), the star-studded event is due to take place on 3 May. The report also notes that others had previously voiced their opposition to the Met’s plan to commemorate Galliano.
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