Metropolitan Museum of Art and John Galliano Cancel Planned Exhibition

The Metropolitan Museum of Art and British fashion designer John Galliano announced on Monday that the planned exhibition titled "John Galliano: Horizons" will no longer take place. The exhibition, which was scheduled for the spring of 2027 and linked to the Met Gala, was canceled following significant controversy regarding Galliano's past antisemitic comments. In a statement, Galliano said he decided with great sadness that it was best for the show not to occur at this time. He stated that he remains fully accountable for the pain caused to the Jewish and Asian communities and noted that true atonement is not achieved through a single public gesture or institutional recognition.

The controversy stems from a 2011 incident in which videos emerged of Galliano making antisemitic remarks and expressing admiration for Hitler at a Paris cafe. These events led to his dismissal from Dior and a conviction for hate speech in French courts. CNN noted that the Met Gala date for next year would fall on Yom HaShoah, a day of Holocaust remembrance. Galliano, who has been sober for 15 years, stated he did not want the debate surrounding his person to place the museum in a difficult position or distract from the work of the Costume Institute.

Pressure on the museum grew from various figures. Folha de S.Paulo reported that donors and politicians, including New York City Council President Julie Menin and Elisha Wiesel, expressed opposition. One donor, Alice Tisch, described the project as image washing and a failure of governance. Conversely, some leaders had previously expressed support for Galliano's growth. The CEO of the Anti-Defamation League and Rabbi Rick Jacobs had previously indicated that Galliano appeared sincere in his efforts to address his past actions.

Curator Andrew Bolton and Vogue editor Anna Wintour both supported the decision to cancel. Wintour described Galliano's choice as courageous. The exhibition would have made Galliano the third living designer to receive a solo show at the Met, following Yves Saint Laurent and Rei Kawakubo.