The Metropolitan Museum of Art has decided to cancel its upcoming exhibit that was set to honor British designer John Galliano. The decision comes after facing significant criticism from the Jewish community and beyond due to Galliano’s history of making antisemitic and racist remarks.
In an announcement made on Monday, the New York museum revealed that the exhibit, originally scheduled to be the centerpiece of the May 2027 spring Costume Institute show and Met Gala, will no longer proceed. Instead, the museum will introduce a different exhibition at a later date.
Max Hollein, the director and CEO of the museum, stated, “After thoughtful discussions with John Galliano, we have mutually agreed to halt the exhibition.” Galliano also expressed his regret, saying, “After careful consideration and dialogue with The Met and all involved parties, I have concluded, with profound sadness, that it is best to cancel the exhibition at this time. I take full responsibility for the pain caused by my previous statements, especially the harm inflicted on the Jewish and Asian communities, and I deeply apologize for it.”
Renowned for his extravagant designs, Galliano enjoyed a prominent position in the fashion industry as the creative director of Christian Dior for many years. However, his career took a significant blow when he was dismissed from Dior following the surfacing of a series of racially insensitive and antisemitic comments from 2010 and 2011, leading to his conviction in France for antisemitism.
Despite his departure from Dior, Galliano embarked on efforts to rehabilitate his image publicly and privately. He staged a comeback in 2014 by joining Paris fashion house Maison Margiela, where he worked for a decade.
Originally set to be only the third living designer to have a solo exhibit at the Met’s Costume Institute, Galliano’s show has now been canceled. The annual Met Gala, which marks the beginning of the spring season and is a prominent event in the fashion world, is overseen by Anna Wintour, the global editorial director of Vogue and a key figure in the industry who has been a longtime supporter of Galliano.
Prior to announcing the exhibit, the museum engaged in discussions with leaders from the Jewish community in an attempt to preempt any potential backlash. However, the decision was met with increasing criticism. New York City Council Speaker Julie Menin, a prominent opponent of the exhibition, commended the museum’s choice to cancel the show, emphasizing that honoring Galliano would have been insensitive, especially during a time of rising antisemitism.
[Image Description: A selection of Christian Dior dresses designed by Galliano on display at the V&A Museum in London on Jan. 30, 2019.]