John Galliano cancels Met exhibition

John Galliano has cancelled a major exhibition of his work at New York's Metropolitan Museum of Art. The designer announced the decision on Monday, following criticism over his 2011 conviction for making antisemitic remarks.

The exhibition, titled 'John Galliano: Horizons,' was scheduled to open in May 2027. In a statement, Galliano said that after reflection and discussion with the Met, he had decided with sadness that it was best for the show not to proceed. He stated he did not want to distract from the work of the Met's Costume Institute and recognised that an exhibition honouring his work would be painful for some.

The Past Conviction

Galliano was dismissed as creative director of Dior in 2011. A French court found him guilty of abusing a Jewish curator in a Paris restaurant. The court also heard that he hurled racist insults at her friend, who is of South Asian origin, and in a separate incident declared a love for Hitler. At the time, his lawyer blamed the behaviour on work-related stress and multiple addictions.

In his new statement, Galliano said he remains fully accountable for the pain caused by his past words. "I remain deeply sorry for it," he said. He added that meaningful atonement is not achieved through an exhibition or a single public gesture, but is a continuing responsibility demonstrated through conduct over time. The statement also noted his 15 years of sobriety and recovery.

Institutional and Political Reaction

The planned exhibition would also have provided the theme for the next Met Gala, the star-studded event co-chaired by Vogue's Anna Wintour. That gala is scheduled for 3 May, which coincides with Yom HaShoah, or Holocaust and Heroism Remembrance Day.

Wintour, a trustee of the Met, voiced her support for Galliano's decision. She called it courageous and said she believed it was the right decision. Others had been critical of the museum's plan from the start.

Julie Menin, speaker of the New York City Council, said she had strongly disagreed with the decision to honour Galliano. She stated that at a time of rising antisemitism, it had served as a gut punch to the Jewish community. Jonathan Greenblatt, chief executive of the Anti-Defamation League, said that with antisemitism at crisis levels, honouring Galliano would be misguided. He added that timing matters.

Galliano's Fashion Legacy

Despite the controversy, John Galliano is regarded by many as one of the greatest fashion designers of his generation. Following his conviction, he returned to the industry and served as the creative director of the fashion house Margiela for a decade, until 2024.

His work, known for its theatricality and historical reference, was to be the focus of the now-cancelled Metropolitan Museum exhibition.