NEW YORK — The Metropolitan Museum of Art has decided to cancel its planned exhibit honoring British designer John Galliano after receiving backlash due to his past antisemitic and racist remarks. The exhibit, titled John Galliano: Horizons, was supposed to debut during the Met Gala next May. It will now be replaced by another exhibit, according to the museum’s statement on Monday.
Discussions and Decision: Max Hollein, the museum’s director and CEO, announced that thoughtful discussions with Galliano led to the decision to cancel the exhibition. Galliano expressed his sadness over the cancellation and reiterated his accountability for the pain caused by his past statements, especially to the Jewish and Asian communities.
“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. 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 for it,” Galliano stated.
Trial and Rehabilitation: Galliano, known for his innovative designs, was once a leading figure in the fashion industry as the creative director of Christian Dior. However, he was dismissed from Dior after his antisemitic and racist comments in 2010 and 2011, such as saying, “I love Hitler,” and making derogatory remarks towards Jewish and Asian individuals, surfaced. Galliano faced an antisemitism trial in France, resulting in his conviction. He spent several years working on personal recovery and returned to the fashion scene in 2014 with Parisian fashion house Maison Margiela.
Support and Reactions: Anna Wintour, Vogue’s global editorial director, supported Galliano’s decision to step aside, calling it courageous. Wintour emphasized that this decision was a suitable measure given the circumstances. Andrew Bolton, the Costume Institute’s curator, also aligned with Galliano’s decision, acknowledging the dissatisfaction and pain the proposed exhibition had caused.
“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,” Wintour stated. “I believe this is the right decision, and both he and the Museum have my full support,” Wintour added.
Council Speaker and Antisemitism Concerns: New York City Council Speaker Julie Menin, the daughter of a Holocaust survivor, was notably critical of the planned exhibit. Menin expressed opposition early on and managed ongoing discussions with the museum to voice her concern, particularly due to the rise in antisemitism.
Complications and Concerns: The museum faced further difficulties as the traditional gala date, the first Monday in May, coincides with Holocaust Remembrance Day in 2027. This posed potential conflicts and speculation about changing the event’s date. Jonathan Greenblatt, CEO of the Anti-Defamation League, echoed concerns over the timing, stating that the exhibit honoring Galliano was misguided considering the current antisemitism crisis.
“With antisemitism at crisis levels, the Met honoring John Galliano at this moment was misguided, and even Galliano ultimately recognized what the Met should have done at the start,” Greenblatt remarked.
Further Reactions: Rabbi David Ingber, senior director for Jewish life at the Bronfman Center at 92NY, commended Galliano’s withdrawal from the honor, recognizing the pain it could cause others. He differentiated between personal redemption and the allocation of prestigious recognition.
“Redemption doesn’t entitle someone to every honor that we have,” Ingber stated.
Ingber pointed out that the solo exhibition would have represented significant institutional celebration, which he believed was inappropriate given the circumstances. Galliano’s work remains acknowledged, yet the premise was whether the Met should focus its grandest annual gala celebration around him.