Galliano Withdraws from Met Gala Honor Amid Controversy

John Galliano has pulled out of the upcoming Met Gala where he was to be honored, following backlash over past antisemitic remarks. He stated that he doesn't want the debate to distract from the Costume Institute's work. The designer was fired from Dior in 2011 after a video showed him making hateful comments.

Galliano's 2011 dismissal from Dior followed a video of him making antisemitic remarks in a Paris café. He was later convicted by a French court for public insults based on religion and ethnicity, receiving a fine and damages. He subsequently met with Jewish leaders and received support from groups including the Anti-Defamation League.

The Met had announced the Galliano exhibition in July, which would have made him the third living designer honored solo, after Yves Saint Laurent in 1983 and Rei Kawakubo in 2017. A New York Times report on Sunday highlighted criticism from donors, politicians, and Jewish leaders, prompting Galliano's withdrawal.