John Galliano makes crucial Met Gala decision after intense backlash
John Galliano pens a note to explain why he took the decision on the Met Gala event
Backlash was swift when the Met Gala announcedan exhibition called John Galliano: Horizons in 2027.
This event is planned to celebrate and study one of the creative minds in the fashion industry.
But Galliano was carrying a controversial past.
Back in 2011, he was at a cafe in Paris where he, in a drunken state, spelt out what critics say is a disaster onto himself when he uttered deeply offensive remarks in an anti-Semitic-laden rant.
Being the Dior creative director at the time, he was subsequently fired from his post and even found guilty in France in violation of the country's rule on hate speech.
From there on, Galliano reportedly walked on a redemption path – building what he lost during his viral outburst.
The Met Gala's exhibition seems to be the step toward regaining his footing in the industry.
When giants like Anna Wintour – who has been a key in organising the festival for decades – supported Gilliano's entry, he may have felt confident.
However, it appears many are still not ready to let bygones be bygones, especially when the next year's Met Gala will be set on Yom HaShoah, a day of Holocaust remembrance.
The outcry seemingly became too loud to ignore, so Giuliani himself announced he was stepping back.
“After much reflection and discussion with all those involved, I have decided, with great sadness, that it is best for the exhibition not to take place at this time,” he said in the statement.
“I remain fully accountable for the pain caused by my words in the past, particularly the hurt I caused to the Jewish and Asian communities, and I remain deeply sorry.”
Gilliano continued, "He does not want the debate surrounding me to place the Met in a difficult position or to distract from the remarkable work of the Costume Institute."
The Met Gala, on its end, through the message from Andrew Bolton, the curator of the festival's costume institute, said, "He supported the decision not to proceed.”
So, for now, Galliano's legacy will not be celenrate at the Met Gala as his past controversy refused to die dowm.
