Key facts
- The Metropolitan Museum of Art canceled its planned exhibition on fashion designer John Galliano.
The Metropolitan Museum of Art has canceled its planned exhibition honoring fashion designer John Galliano following backlash over his past racist and antisemitic remarks. Galliano himself agreed to the cancellation, stating it was best for the exhibition not to proceed at this time.
The cancellation highlights the ongoing impact of past controversies on public figures and institutions, demonstrating the power of community advocacy and the evolving standards of accountability in the fashion industry.
The Metropolitan Museum of Art has canceled its planned exhibition honoring fashion designer John Galliano, which was set to coincide with the Met Gala. The decision came after significant backlash over Galliano's past racist and antisemitic remarks, for which he was convicted of a hate crime in France in 2011.
In a joint statement, Galliano expressed accountability for the pain caused by his words, particularly to the Jewish and Asian communities, and stated his decision to withdraw the exhibition was made with great sadness. He acknowledged that an exhibition honoring his work would be painful for some and that meaningful atonement is demonstrated through conduct over time, not just public gestures.
Metropolitan Museum of Art Director Max Hollein confirmed the mutual decision with Galliano not to proceed. Anna Wintour, Vogue's global editorial director, called Galliano's decision courageous and the right one. The New York Times reported growing opposition from Jewish leaders and threats from donors to withdraw gifts if the exhibition went ahead. New York City Council Speaker Julie Menin, whose mother is a Holocaust survivor, supported the cancellation, emphasizing the need for inclusivity and tolerance at institutions like The Met.
The exhibition, titled 'John Galliano: Horizons,' was announced in August. Galliano, formerly the creative director of Christian Dior, was fired in 2011 following the surfacing of his remarks. He returned to fashion in 2014 with Maison Margiela. The museum stated that details about a new spring Costume Institute exhibition and the 2027 Met Gala will be announced at a later date.