The Metropolitan Museum of Art has decided to cancel its upcoming exhibition honoring British designer John Galliano due to significant backlash from the Jewish community and beyond over the designer’s history of making antisemitic and racist remarks.
In a statement released on Monday, the New York museum announced that the exhibit, originally scheduled as the spring Costume Institute show for May 2027, will be substituted with another exhibition to be revealed later.
Max Hollein, the museum’s director and CEO, disclosed, “After thoughtful discussions with John Galliano, we have mutually agreed not to move forward with the exhibition.” Galliano also expressed his thoughts in the statement, stating, “After much contemplation and dialogue with The Met and all involved parties, I have sadly decided that it is best to forgo the exhibition at this time. I take full responsibility for the pain caused by my past words, particularly the harm inflicted on the Jewish and Asian communities, and I am deeply remorseful.”
Galliano, renowned for his extravagant designs, previously held a prominent position as the creative director at Christian Dior. However, he was dismissed from the role following the emergence of a series of racist and antisemitic comments made in 2010 and 2011, leading to his conviction in an antisemitism trial in France.
Following his departure from Dior, Galliano engaged in various public and private initiatives aimed at redemption. He later staged a successful comeback in 2014 when he was appointed by the Paris fashion house Maison Margiela, where he continued for a decade.
Originally set to be the third living designer to be featured in a solo exhibit at the Met’s Costume Institute, Galliano’s showcase was anticipated to kick off the spring season, coinciding with the prestigious Met Gala, a prominent event in the fashion industry overseen by Anna Wintour, Vogue’s global editorial director and a significant figure in fashion circles.
Despite consultation with Jewish community leaders prior to the exhibition announcement in an effort to mitigate potential objections, the backlash persisted and intensified. Notably, New York City Council Speaker Julie Menin emerged as a vocal critic of the planned exhibit, commending the museum’s decision to cancel. Menin emphasized, “After extensive discussions with The Met, I am pleased with their choice not to celebrate John Galliano. I have consistently voiced my strong opposition to this decision, especially amidst the current rise in antisemitism. It was a painful blow to the Jewish community, and the cancellation is the right call given the unacceptable harm and distress it was causing.”