The Metropolitan Museum of Art has decided to cancel its upcoming exhibition honoring British designer John Galliano following significant criticism from the Jewish community and beyond due to Galliano’s history of making antisemitic and racist remarks. The New York museum announced on Monday that the exhibit, originally slated for the May 2027 spring Costume Institute show and the annual Met Gala, will be replaced by a different exhibition to be revealed later.
In a statement, Max Hollein, the museum’s director and CEO, shared that after thoughtful discussions with John Galliano, they mutually agreed not to move forward with the exhibition. Galliano also expressed his regret, stating, “After extensive reflection and conversations with The Met and all involved parties, I have decided, with deep sadness, that it is best to forgo the exhibition at this time. I take full responsibility for the hurt caused by my past words, especially to the Jewish and Asian communities, and I sincerely apologize for it.”
Galliano, renowned for his extravagant designs, previously served as the creative director of Christian Dior before being dismissed due to a series of racist and antisemitic comments made in 2010 and 2011, which led to his conviction in France. Following his departure from Dior, Galliano worked on personal and public initiatives for several years to rehabilitate his reputation. He returned to the fashion scene in 2014 when he joined Maison Margiela, where he worked for a decade.
Originally set to be the third living designer to have a solo show at the Met’s Costume Institute, Galliano’s exhibition would have kicked off the spring season alongside the prestigious Met Gala, a highly anticipated event in the fashion industry overseen by Anna Wintour, Vogue’s global editorial director and a leading figure in fashion, who has been a longtime supporter of Galliano.
Despite consulting with Jewish community leaders before announcing the exhibit, the museum faced escalating criticism. Notably, New York City Council Speaker Julie Menin, a vocal opponent of the show, applauded the decision to cancel, emphasizing the insensitivity of honoring Galliano amid rising antisemitism concerns.
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