John Galliano: Horizons, the retrospective that the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York had planned for May 2027, is a badly ended dream.
The long-awaited exhibition dedicated to the creative genius of John Galliano has been cancelled.
The designer himself, along with industry media, shared the news. In a lengthy statement posted on his Instagram profile, he expressed his desire to withdraw and thanked the organizers, once again apologizing for the past incident.
The official announcement of the cancellation of the event came on Monday, August 31, following growing protests from many members of the Jewish communities in New York and internationally.
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The controversy dates back to 2011, when the fashion designer was given a suspended fine by a Paris court after publicly going on an antisemitic rant at Le Perle, a Parisian bar. The British designer was found guilty of “public insults” based on origin, religion, race, or ethnicity following two incidents in February 2011. At the time of the incidents, Galliano said he was struggling with alcohol addiction and substance abuse.
The incident impacted the designer’s life and career for years, costing him the loss of his creative direction at Dior and several prestigious positions.
In an attempt to mend his ways, Galliano embarked on a rehabilitation program to sober up, and despite repeated public apologies, the episode led to his departure from the fashion scene.
The designer gradually regained the professional trust he had always deserved, returning to work first for Oscar de la Renta and, in 2014, as creative director of Maison Margiela. A few months ago, a capsule collection designed exclusively by the designer for the fashion giant Zara was announced.
In any case, the instability of the Met’s decision was palpable. The media outcry and protests increased due to the unfortunate coincidence of the Met Gala’s opening date, traditionally scheduled for the first Monday in May, with Holocaust Remembrance Day, which falls on May 3rd.
“After much reflection and discussion with all those involved, I have decided, with great sadness, that is best thing for the exhibition not to take place at this time,” the statement reads. “I remain fully accountable for the pain caused in the past by my words, particularly the hurt I caused to the Jewish and Asian communities. I remain deeply sorry,” the designer clarified.
The decision to withdraw was therefore primarily desired by Galliano to avoid further controversy and to protect the work of the Costume Institute and the Metropolitan Museum from potential recriminations. However, it is equally widely believed that this decision may be the result of institutional pressure.
