John Galliano Withdraws from Planned Metropolitan Museum of Art Exhibition

Fashion designer John Galliano has withdrawn from a planned solo exhibition at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York. The exhibition, titled "John Galliano: Horizons," was scheduled to begin next year and would have made him only the third living designer to be honored with a solo show at the museum's Costume Institute. The decision follows intense criticism from political officials and major donors regarding antisemitic and racist remarks Galliano made between 2010 and 2011.

In a statement, Galliano said he decided with great sadness that the exhibition should not take place at this time. He acknowledged the pain his past words caused and stated that he did not want the debate surrounding him to place the museum in a difficult position. Max Hollein, the director of the Met, confirmed that the decision was made together following thoughtful discussions.

The backlash included opposition from Jewish leaders and New York City officials. Julie Menin, the speaker of the City Council, described the planned show as a gut punch to the Jewish community. Other critics included Elisha Wiesel and Arne Glimcher, the latter of whom threatened to remove the museum from his will. These pressures were amplified by the museum's reliance on city funding and private donations.

The controversy stems from 2011, when a French court convicted Galliano of an antisemitic hate crime. Video footage from that period showed him praising Adolf Hitler and making comments about gassing people. These events led to his dismissal as the creative director of Dior. Galliano later returned to the industry in 2014 as the creative director of Maison Margiela after spending time in rehab and meeting with rabbis.