John Galliano, who designed the jacket on display (pictured), and the Metropolitan Museum of Art have canceled a 2027 exhibit and Met Gala honoring the British fashion designer. File Photo by John Angelillo/UPI | License Photo
Aug. 31 (UPI) -- John Galliano and the Metropolitan Museum of Art have canceled a planned 2027 exhibit and Met Gala honoring the British fashion designer.
Galliano, 65, the previous creative director of Givenchy, Dior, Maison Margiela and his own John Galliano label, dropped out Monday following backlash. Critics had called for the event to be canceled due to Galliano's past antisemitic and racist remarks.
"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 said in a statement on social media.
"I do not want the debate surrounding me to place the Met in a difficult position or to distract from the remarkable work of the Costume Institute. I also recognize and respect that an exhibition honoring my work would be painful for some," he added.
