The Metropolitan Museum of Art has decided to cancel its upcoming exhibition dedicated to British designer John Galliano due to backlash within the Jewish community and beyond over the designer’s previous antisemitic and racist remarks. The exhibit, originally scheduled for the May 2027 spring Costume Institute show that kicks off the annual Met Gala, will be substituted with a different show, the museum announced on Monday.
In a statement, Max Hollein, the museum’s director and CEO, revealed that after thoughtful deliberations with John Galliano, they mutually agreed not to proceed with the exhibition. Galliano also expressed his remorse, stating, “After extensive reflection and discussions with The Met and all parties involved, I have decided, with great sadness, that it is best to halt 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 sincerely apologize for it.”
Known for his extravagant designs, Galliano’s career reached its pinnacle as the creative director of Christian Dior before he was dismissed from the position following the emergence of racist and antisemitic comments from 2010 and 2011, resulting in a conviction in an antisemitism trial in France. Subsequently, Galliano engaged in both public and private efforts to rebuild his reputation and eventually staged a comeback in 2014 when he joined Paris fashion house Maison Margiela, where he remained for a decade.
Initially set to be only the third living designer to be featured in a solo exhibition at the Met’s Costume Institute, Galliano’s show was highly anticipated. The Met Gala, which marks the beginning of the spring season and is a prominent event in the fashion industry, is overseen by Anna Wintour, the global editorial director of Vogue and a significant figure in the fashion world, who has been a longtime supporter of Galliano.
Before the exhibition announcement, the museum engaged in discussions with leaders in the Jewish community to mitigate potential backlash, but the opposition continued to grow. Among the critics of the exhibition was New York City Council Speaker Julie Menin, who commended the decision to cancel the show, emphasizing the inappropriateness of honoring Galliano amidst rising antisemitism concerns.