The Metropolitan Museum of Art has decided to cancel its upcoming exhibition honoring British designer John Galliano due to widespread criticism within the Jewish community and beyond regarding Galliano’s history of making antisemitic and racist remarks. The museum announced on Monday that the exhibit, originally set for the May 2027 spring Costume Institute show, will be replaced by a different exhibition to be revealed later.
In a statement, Max Hollein, the museum’s director and CEO, mentioned that after careful deliberation with John Galliano, they mutually agreed to forgo the exhibition. Galliano also expressed his regret, stating, “After extensive contemplation and discussions with The Met and all involved parties, I have sadly concluded that it is best to cancel the exhibition at this time. I take full responsibility for the pain my past words have caused, particularly to the Jewish and Asian communities, and I deeply apologize for it.”
John Galliano, renowned for his extravagant fashion designs, faced a downfall in his career when his past racist and antisemitic comments from 2010 and 2011 surfaced, leading to his dismissal as the creative director of Christian Dior and subsequent legal repercussions in France. Despite his expulsion from Dior, Galliano underwent a period of rehabilitation in both public and private spheres. He later staged a comeback in 2014 by joining Maison Margiela, a Paris-based fashion house, where he worked for ten years.
Originally slated to be only the third living designer to have a solo exhibition at the Met’s Costume Institute, Galliano’s show was intended to kick off the spring season, coinciding with the prestigious Met Gala, a prominent event in the fashion industry overseen by Anna Wintour, the global editorial director of Vogue and a well-respected figure in fashion circles, who has been a longtime supporter of Galliano.
Before announcing the exhibition, the museum engaged in discussions with leaders from the Jewish community to preempt any potential backlash, but the opposition persisted. Notably, New York City Council Speaker Julie Menin emerged as a vocal critic of the planned exhibit, commending the decision to cancel it. Menin emphasized the inappropriateness of honoring Galliano, particularly amid a resurgence of antisemitism, stating that the show’s continuation would have inflicted further harm and distress within the Jewish community.