The Metropolitan Museum of Art has announced the cancellation of its planned 2027 exhibition, "John Galliano: Horizons," which was set to honor the British fashion designer John Galliano. The nine-month exhibit, scheduled to be launched by the annual Met Gala, was withdrawn following intense backlash over Galliano’s history of antisemitic and racist remarks.
John Galliano, once a leading figure in the fashion industry and the creative director of Christian Dior for 14 years, fell from grace in 2011 after a video surfaced showing him making antisemitic insults at a Paris restaurant. He was subsequently convicted in a French court of public insults based on race and religion and fined approximately $8,500. Following the controversy, Dior terminated his employment. The designer has since publicly acknowledged his misconduct and sought rehabilitation for alcohol and drug addiction.
After several years away from the spotlight, Galliano made a professional comeback in 2014 as the creative director of the Paris fashion house Maison Margiela, a position he held until 2024. Despite his return, his past actions have remained a source of controversy, including concerns from members of the Met’s board of trustees and donors ahead of the planned exhibition. Some prominent figures, including New York City Council Speaker Julie Menin, publicly opposed the exhibit, describing it as hurtful to the Jewish community.
In a joint statement released on Monday, Max Hollein, director and CEO of the Met, said that the decision was made after thoughtful discussions with Galliano. The designer himself expressed regret over his past statements, apologizing for the pain caused to Jewish and Asian communities, and emphasized that he did not want the exhibition to distract from the Costume Institute's work or place the museum in a difficult position. “After much reflection and discussion with The Met and all those involved, I have decided, with great sadness, that it is best for the exhibition not to take place at this time,” Galliano said.
The exhibition would have marked Galliano as only the third living designer to be featured in a dedicated Costume Institute show, following Yves Saint Laurent in 1983 and Rei Kawakubo of Comme des Garçons in 2017. Anna Wintour, a long-time supporter of Galliano, backed his decision to withdraw the exhibit, describing it as "very courageous" and the right choice given the circumstances. Andrew Bolton, curator of the Costume Institute, acknowledged the concerns and pain the proposed exhibition had caused.
The Met had initially planned to highlight the full trajectory of Galliano’s career, including confronting the darker aspects of his past. The cancelled gala event was expected to draw significant attention, with celebrities anticipated to wear Galliano’s designs. However, the controversy surrounding Galliano's previous behavior ultimately led to the withdrawal and cancellation of the tribute. The museum has indicated it will replace the planned exhibit with another show in its spring 2027 schedule.