The Metropolitan Museum of Art has abandoned plans to dedicate its 2027 costume exhibition to John Galliano, reversing a decision that had generated excitement among fashion insiders and vintage dealers.
The reversal followed criticism from Met patrons, New York politicians and prominent Jewish leaders over Galliano’s past antisemitic and racist remarks. The Met Gala will still take place, but it currently has no announced theme.
Why the tribute drew criticism
Galliano was recorded in Paris in 2010 saying “I love Hitler” and telling people that their ancestors would have been gassed. Months later, he used a racist insult against someone described in the account as Asian. He lost his creative director role at Dior, entered rehabilitation and was found guilty of a hate crime in a Paris court.
Galliano later described his conduct as a “disgusting” and “foul” act. The reporting says he has been sober for 15 years and has spoken about addiction to alcohol, sleeping pills and Valium during the period of his outburst. He also denies a separate allegation from publicist Lauren London, who said he yelled “Merry Christmas!” at her friend while she was speaking Hebrew in 2019.
What we know now
- The Galliano exhibition “will not proceed as planned.”
- The related Met Gala theme has not been announced.
- The Costume Institute’s most recent gala raised $42m, according to the supplied reporting.
A public reversal of a long comeback
Anna Wintour had supported Galliano’s return to fashion. His comeback included a temporary residency with Oscar de la Renta, a 2013 profile focused on his efforts to atone, and his appointment as creative director of Maison Margiela from 2014 to 2024. Director Kevin Macdonald’s 2023 documentary, “High & Low – John Galliano”, examined the designer’s fall from grace and recovery.
The planned exhibition had also prompted preparations in the vintage market. Los Angeles dealer Johnny Valencia said he had located a 2004 Galliano gown and was sourcing Dior couture before the theme was withdrawn. Fashion reporter Lauren Sherman said the cancellation could reduce future sales tied to the exhibition, while also arguing that the controversy had made Galliano’s name more widely known.
What happens to the gala and Galliano’s work
The cancellation does not end the Met Gala. The event’s “first Monday in May” tradition is expected to continue, although the replacement theme has not been publicly revealed. Calls to cancel the gala altogether have also been made, but the event provides substantial funding for the Costume Institute; the latest gala cited in the reporting raised $42m.
Zara still appears set to release a Galliano collaboration later this month, featuring his reinterpretations of earlier runway looks. His archival designs, including the Dior saddle bag, bias-cut dresses and the newspaper-print dress worn by Carrie Bradshaw in “Sex and the City”, remain sought after by collectors.
What happens next
The Met must determine and announce a replacement theme for the gala; the reporting says a 2028 theme is already in planning but has not been publicly revealed.
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