Designer John Galliano, who was convicted of a hate crime in 2011 for antisemitic comments, said a planned exhibition to honor his work as part of the 2027 Met Gala will not happen.
In an announcement Monday, Galliano thanked the Metropolitan Museum of Art, lead chairperson Anna Wintour and others while noting he did not want to put the museum’s Costume Institute “in a difficult position.”
“I remain fully accountable for the pain caused by my words in the past, particularly the hurt I caused to the Jewish and Asian communities, and I remain deeply sorry,” Galliano said in his statement. “I understand that meaningful atonement is not achieved through an exhibition, institutional recognition or a single public gesture. It is a continuing responsibility, demonstrated through listening, learning and one’s conduct over time.”
Galliano was fired as creative director at Dior in 2011 over two incidents where he made hateful remarks, including ones caught on video where he claimed love for Nazi leader Adolf Hitler and told fellow patrons of a cafe their ancestors would be “fucking gassed.” Galliano later said he had no memory of the incidents, claiming he made the comments while under the influence of drugs and alcohol.
According to The New York Times, recent backlash to the planned exhibition included threats from donors who said they would rescind contributions to the museum should the tribute move forward.
Wintour, the former editor in chief of Vogue who has been the driving force behind expanding the cultural footprint of the gala beyond just the fashion world, effusively praised Galliano’s career but called the cancellation “the right decision.”
“John’s decision to ask the Museum to postpone the exhibition devoted to his work is very courageous and a measure of the man he is,” she said.
Plans for “John Galliano: Horizons” were announced in July, and the exhibit was set to debut in spring 2027. A replacement exhibition will be announced at a later date, according to Vogue.