The Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City has decided to cancel a planned exhibition honoring British designer John Galliano. The decision follows growing backlash over the designer’s history of anti-Jewish and anti-Asian remarks. Galliano was supposed to be featured in next year’s Costume Institute spring show, which coincides with the annual Met Gala in May. The museum’s director, Max Hollein, announced that the institution and Galliano mutually agreed to cancel due to the controversy.

In 2011, Galliano faced legal consequences in France for antisemitic behavior, directed at a couple in a Paris cafe. He attributed this behavior to substance abuse, claiming addiction to alcohol and various drugs. Galliano testified that he did not remember the incident. A video later emerged showing Galliano making offensive remarks about Adolf Hitler and the Jewish community. The New Yorker reported at that time that additional accusations surfaced about Galliano’s conduct in Parisian bars, targeting Jewish and Asian individuals.

The fallout included Galliano’s dismissal from Dior, where he had been employed since the mid-1990s. Following his conviction, Galliano was fined by the court. Two years after the scandal, he was offered a position at Oscar de la Renta and later worked as creative director at Maison Margiela. He is scheduled to collaborate with Zara in 2024.

Julie Menin, New York City Council Speaker, called for the Met to reconsider the exhibition. She questioned Galliano’s suitability for such an honor, emphasizing the responsibilities attached to the Met’s influential status. Her concerns referenced Galliano’s past misdemeanors, including a 2019 incident in Italy, reported by The New York Times, where Galliano allegedly harassed a woman speaking Hebrew.

Galliano expressed remorse in a statement released by the Met, apologizing to Jewish and Asian communities. He emphasized that genuine change is an ongoing process that involves listening and learning. Andrew Bolton, curator of The Met’s Costume Institute, supported the cancellation, acknowledging the pain caused by the exhibition’s planning.

Anna Wintour, the Met Gala chair, agreed with the museum’s decision while praising Galliano’s courage in withdrawing. She expressed her continued support for him. Menin expressed satisfaction with the exhibit’s cancellation, highlighting its personal significance given her background as a descendant of a Holocaust survivor and the first Jewish speaker of the New York City Council.