In early August, Anna Wintour, the influential global editorial director of Vogue and a trustee at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, initiated a conversation with Julie Menin, a prominent figure as the daughter of a Holocaust survivor and the first Jewish speaker of the New York City Council. They discussed the controversial plan to honor designer John Galliano with a solo exhibition at the Met’s Costume Institute.

Galliano, previously convicted of an antisemitic hate crime, had once declared his love for Hitler and made offensive remarks in a bar. Wintour argued for Galliano’s creative talent and his expressed remorse for past actions. She proposed a private meeting between Galliano and Menin, expressing confidence in the show’s potential success.

However, the plan sparked an uproar among influential New Yorkers, including donors to the museum. One high-level donor referred to the honoring of Galliano as ‘insane.’ The backlash led the Met to unexpectedly cancel the exhibition, a significant setback for Wintour, known for her decisive judgment and influence in fashion and art.

The cancelled exhibition was poised to be a major event on the museum’s calendar. It promised a star-studded gala, a major fundraiser generating millions annually. The decision to call off the show underscored the controversy and tension it created among New York’s elite. This incident represents a substantial misstep for the 76-year-old Wintour, who had personally championed the designer for this distinctive recognition.