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Galliano Withdraws
Fashion designer John Galliano withdrew on Monday from a Metropolitan Museum of Art exhibition and 2027 Met Gala event in his honor, citing "the pain caused by [his] words in the past" to the Jewish and Asian communities.
“citing "the pain caused by [his] words in the past"”
Haaretz said Galliano was indicted for hate speech by a French court 16 years ago after a video surfaced of him making an antisemitic rant.
The Metropolitan Museum of Art had announced the exhibition "John Galliano: Horizons" to open in May 2027, but ABC7 New York reported the museum announced it would not go forward with the exhibit after backlash.
In a statement shared by The Met, Galliano said, "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."
Backlash and Support
The backlash centered on the Met’s decision to honor Galliano despite his history of antisemitic and racist remarks, and the Jerusalem Post said criticism increased in recent weeks as Jewish leaders, museum donors and New York politicians urged the museum to reconsider.
The Jerusalem Post reported that New York City Council Speaker Julie Menin called the decision deeply painful for Jewish New Yorkers and said prominent Met donor Alice Tisch described the planned exhibition as a "whitewash."
Anna Wintour, Condé Nast’s chief content officer and a driving force behind the Met Gala, supported the reversal, telling reporters: "John's decision that the exhibition devoted to his work should not take place at this time is very courageous and a measure of the man he is."
Jonathan Greenblatt, CEO and national director of the Anti-Defamation League, said the Met honoring Galliano was "misguided" and that "Timing matters."
What Comes Next
Galliano’s withdrawal left the Met without a planned spring 2027 Costume Institute exhibition, and the museum said information about a replacement exhibition and the 2027 Met Gala will be announced later.
“a new spring Costume Institute exhibition and the 2027 Met Gala will be announced at a later date”
The Guardian reported that the Met said details about "a new spring Costume Institute exhibition and the 2027 Met Gala will be announced at a later date" after the cancellation.
The BBC said the star-studded Met Gala was due to take place on 3 May, coinciding with Yom HaShoah (Holocaust and Heroism Remembrance Day), and it quoted Galliano saying he did not want the debate to distract from the Costume Institute.
In a statement Monday, Max Hollein said, "Following thoughtful discussions with John Galliano, we have together decided not to proceed with the exhibition," as the museum moved away from the planned show that would have launched the gala.