Controversial designer John Galliano cancels Met exhibition after backlash

After months of backlash, John Galliano is bowing out. The British fashion designer has withdrawn from a planned exhibition in his honour at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, a decision made together with the Met. After much reflection and discussion with the Met and all those involved, I have decided with great sadness that it is best for the exhibition not to take place at this time. The exhibition, titled John Galliano Horizons, was due to open in May 2027, but it drew criticism from donors, political figures and the public because of Galliano's controversial past. In 2011, a French court found the designer guilty of anti-Semitic and racist rants at this Parisian bar. He was also fired by Dior as creative director that same year after a video surfaced of him declaring a love for Hitler. Galliano apologised for his behaviour at the time, his lawyer blaming work stress and addiction. He renewed his apology in Monday's statement. 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 also noted his 15 years of sobriety and recovery from alcoholism and addiction. After spending time in rehab and doing personal work with members of the Jewish community, Galliano returned to the fashion industry, serving as creative director of Margiela for a decade until 2024. He's now working on a two-year creative partnership with Zara.