The Metropolitan Museum of Art has decided to cancel its upcoming exhibition dedicated to British designer John Galliano due to the widespread criticism from the Jewish community and beyond regarding Galliano’s history of making antisemitic and racist remarks.
The museum announced on Monday that the exhibit, originally scheduled for the May 2027 spring Costume Institute show and the annual Met Gala, will be replaced with a different exhibition to be revealed later.
In a statement, Max Hollein, the museum’s director and CEO, stated, “After thoughtful discussions with John Galliano, we have mutually agreed to not proceed with the exhibition.”
Galliano also expressed his sentiments in the statement, saying, “After much contemplation and dialogue with The Met and all parties involved, I have sadly decided that it is in the best interest for the exhibition to be canceled at this time. I take full responsibility for the hurt caused by my past words, especially the pain inflicted on the Jewish and Asian communities, and I deeply regret it.”
Galliano, known for his extravagant designs, previously served as the creative director of Christian Dior but was dismissed from the position following the emergence of racist and antisemitic comments made in 2010 and 2011, leading to a conviction in an antisemitism trial in France.
Despite facing setbacks, Galliano worked on public and private initiatives to rebuild his reputation. He reentered the fashion scene in 2014 when he joined the Paris fashion house Maison Margiela, where he worked for ten years.
The cancellation of the exhibition is significant as Galliano would have been only the third living designer to have a solo show at the Met’s Costume Institute.
The Met Gala, which kicks off the spring season and is a prominent event in the fashion industry, is overseen by Anna Wintour, Vogue’s global editorial director and a key figure in fashion. Wintour has been a longtime supporter of Galliano.
Before announcing the exhibition, the museum engaged in discussions with leaders from the Jewish community to address potential backlash. However, the decision faced increasing criticism. New York City Council Speaker Julie Menin, a vocal opponent of the exhibit, commended the museum’s choice to cancel, citing the current climate of rising antisemitism and the harm it was causing to the Jewish community.