The 2027 Met Gala will no longer honour British fashion designer John Galliano, following backlash over antisemitic and racist comments he made in 2010 and 2011.
Galliano, 65, was due to become only the third person ever to receive a retrospective exhibition at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City, following Yves Saint Laurent and Rei Kawakubo. His selection proved controversial, and he has now issued a joint statement with The Met confirming his withdrawal.
Galliano steps down from exhibition
In the statement, Galliano expressed gratitude to Met director Max Hollein, Costume Institute curator Andrew Bolton, and former Vogue editor-in-chief Anna Wintour. Writing on Instagram, he said: '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.'
'I remain fully accountable for the pain caused by my words in the past, particularly the hurt I caused to the Jewish and Asian communities, and I remain deeply sorry for it,' he added. '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. I also recognise and respect that an exhibition honouring my work would be painful for some.'
Plans for spring 2027 exhibition unconfirmed
Plans for a new spring 2027 Costume Institute exhibition are yet to be announced. Details regarding next year's Met Gala – helmed by Anna Wintour and occurring on the first Monday in May – are also currently unconfirmed.
Why is John Galliano controversial?
Galliano is a notoriously controversial figure in the fashion world. In 2011, he was dismissed from his creative director position at Dior after footage of a drunken Galliano emerged, showing him making antisemitic remarks to a couple in a Paris café. The video, filmed in late 2010, circulated online before Paris Fashion Week that autumn. He was captured saying, 'I love Hitler' and telling the couple, 'People like you would be dead'.
While he initially denied the allegations and filed a defamation lawsuit against the couple, after being fired, Galliano was found guilty of public insults based on origin, religious affiliation, race or ethnicity. His lawyer had argued that his 'outbursts' were due to 'work-related stress and multiple addictions', while Galliano himself said his mental state was suffering following the death of his friend, Steven Robinson. Galliano received suspended fines totalling €6,000.
He was also publicly condemned by famous figures, such as a 'deeply shocked' Natalie Portman, who said that, 'as an individual who is proud to be Jewish, [she] will not be associated with Mr Galliano in any way'.
