John Galliano: Nothing New?

A piece of old news turned new this August when the Metropolitan Museum of Art canceled their 2027 Met Gala theme, John Galliano: Horizons.

The decision was a response to public criticism surrounding the theme, as donors and internet haters alike spoke out against honoring Galliano at the iconic event.

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The foundation for the criticism is airtight—and old news. Galliano was fired from Dior in 2011 after publicly berating patrons at a Parisian cafe with antisemetic slurs. In a separate incident, he was also caught on video saying “I love Hitler” and telling people their families “should have been gassed.”

After leaving Dior, Galliano went to rehab for alcoholism and addiction. He then returned to the industry as creative director of Mason Margiela from 2014 to 2024, patching up a couture career left in tatters.

The Met’s decision to honor him followed this redemption arc, seeking to celebrate his incredible footprint and grasp on the fashion world. As Anna Wintour put it, “Cut, fit, the evocative line of a bias-cut dress, color—he’s a master of it all.” The impact Galliano has made on fashion simply cannot be overstated.

Photo by Getty Images

But of course, separating the art from the artist has never been easy. Take Kanye West, a lyrical genius but similarly antisemetic artist. Has he been successfully separated from his art?

It might seem that nothing could faze the fashion masses anymore, not after Gucci’s blackface scandal or McQueen’s Highland Rape collection. But is that what this recycled piece of news is? Just another controversial moment for L’Officiel’s Praise-Worthy or Problematic article? *

Top photo taken from The Times, bottom photo taken from NPR

Galliano is flawed. Does that mean we can’t appreciate his work?

Fashion is about pushing boundaries. And the Metropolitan Museum of Art is dedicated to displaying great art. However, making him the centerpiece of this iconic event—an honor reserved for only two other living designers—might be a step too far.

As New York Times reporter Bret Stephens puts it, “The error of the Galliano retrospective was not the desire to display his outstanding body of work for the public… The outrage was the highly personalized form of the honor being bestowed on Galliano himself, above all through the Met Gala, which violated the principle of separation by celebrating the execrable creator along with his extraordinary creations.”

Even if the art can be separated from the artist, the Met failed spectacularly in doing so.

I believe people can change, but that doesn’t erase their past. Actions have consequences. For John Galliano, those consequences are that he won’t be celebrated at the Met Gala as the world watches. If you ask me, that feels generous.

If there’s one thing John Galliano has shown the world, it’s that great art can come from imperfect people. In fact, most art does. However, beautiful clothes and industry-shaking collections do not forgive bigotry and hatred. 

Galliano brought a lot of beauty into the world, but he brought hate along with it. It seems there’s no right answer for how to honor that legacy.

*It’s worth noting that John Galliano has already made their list for his geisha-inspired (or perhaps better described as appropriated) looks.