Anna Wintour defends 'antisemite' John Galliano for withdrawal from Met tribute

Designer John Galliano has been problematic for some years but he's always had the support of literally the most important person in fashion: Anna Wintour.

That loyalty is now more evident than ever, as Galliano withdraws from a planned exhibition about his work at the esteemed New York Met Museum.

The former and iconic Vogue editor Wintour issued a statement on the Met's website about controversial Galliano's headline-making decision on Monday.

“John’s decision that the exhibition devoted to his work should not take place at this time is very courageous and a measure of the man he is,’’ she said.

“I believe this is the right decision, and both he and the Museum have my full support."

There had been a fierce backlash to news of the exhibition, intended to be a focal point at next year's Met Gala, which has now intensified after Wintour's public expression of loyalty.

 

 

 

 

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Anna Wintour backs controversial designer John Galliano

Galliano, a former A-list celebrity designer - having dressed everyone from Princess Diana to Kim Kardashian - was effectively cancelled in 2011 after he was filmed spouting racist comments.

Reportedly, video captured him hissing to a random woman in Paris that she had an “ugly Jewish face” and telling a man with her, “f–king Asian bastard, I will kill you.”

He also at one time drunkenly told a Jewish woman, “I love Hitler” while saying her family should have been “gassed” during the Holocaust.

Galliano was dropped from fashion house Dior and fined in France for “public insults based on origin, religious affiliation, race or ethnicity.’’

The designer was able to make a comeback of sorts in recent years, thanks to Wintour.

But even the fashion queen herself was not able to halt the intensifying backlash to the news of the planned Galliano tribute, with Jewish leaders especially decrying the project.

Finally, Galliano issued a statement on Instagram yesterday, saying, “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.”

At the time, he apologised for his behaviour and his lawyer blamed it on "work-related stress and multiple addictions".

Galliano's statement yesterday continued: "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 for it.

"I understand that meaningful atonement is not achieved through an exhibition, institutional recognition or a single public gesture.

"It is a continuing responsibility, demonstrated through listening, learning and one's conduct over time."

Galliano also noted his 15 years of sobriety since his offences.