The Metropolitan Museum of Art has decided to cancel its upcoming exhibition celebrating the work of British designer John Galliano due to significant backlash within the Jewish community and beyond over the designer’s history of making antisemitic and racist remarks.
In a statement on Monday, the New York museum announced that the exhibit, originally slated to be the highlight of the May 2027 spring Costume Institute show and the annual Met Gala, will be replaced by an alternative exhibition to be revealed at a later date.
Max Hollein, the museum’s director and CEO, stated, “Following extensive discussions with John Galliano, we have mutually agreed to not move forward with the exhibition.” Galliano, in collaboration with the museum, expressed, “After careful consideration and dialogues with The Met and all parties involved, I have reluctantly decided that it is in the best interest to cancel the exhibition at this time. I take full responsibility for the pain caused by my past words, especially the harm inflicted on the Jewish and Asian communities, and I sincerely apologize.”
As a prominent figure in the fashion industry known for his extravagant designs, Galliano faced a downfall in his career when his racist and antisemitic comments from 2010 and 2011 came to light, leading to his dismissal as the creative director of Christian Dior and a subsequent conviction in an antisemitism trial in France.
Following his departure from Dior, Galliano devoted several years to rehabilitation efforts, eventually staging a comeback in 2014 as the creative head of Maison Margiela in Paris, a position he held for ten years. The Met’s Costume Institute had intended for Galliano to be only the third living designer to be featured in a solo exhibition.
The Met Gala, which kicks off the spring season and is considered a prominent event in the fashion industry, is overseen by Anna Wintour, the global editorial director of Vogue and a significant influencer in the fashion world, who has been a longtime supporter of Galliano.
Despite holding consultations with Jewish community leaders prior to the exhibition announcement in an attempt to address potential backlash, the museum faced escalating criticism. New York City Council Speaker Julie Menin, a vocal opponent of the exhibit, commended the decision to cancel, stating, “I am pleased that The Met has agreed not to honor John Galliano. I have consistently voiced my strong opposition to this choice, particularly amidst rising antisemitism. This cancellation is the right decision, as the harm and distress it was causing were unacceptable.”