Why the Met Museum Pulled the John Galliano Exhibition

The Metropolitan Museum of Art announced that it will no longer present the solo exhibition honoring British designer John Galliano, a decision that came after intense criticism from the Jewish community and other groups.

The cancelled show had been slated for the May 2027 spring Costume Institute program, which traditionally opens the annual Met Gala, and would have made Galliano only the third living designer to receive a dedicated Met exhibition.

Galliano’s reputation was severely damaged in 2010‑2011 when a series of antisemitic and racist remarks he made went viral; the scandal led to his dismissal from Christian Dior and later resulted in a conviction for antisemitic speech in a French court.

Community leaders, most notably New York City Council Speaker Julie Menin, voiced strong opposition to the planned exhibition; after a series of meetings with museum officials, Menin praised the Met’s decision to cancel, describing the show as an unacceptable source of pain for the Jewish community.

Museum director and CEO Max Hollein said the cancellation followed thoughtful discussions with Galliano, who in a joint statement expressed "deep sorrow" and affirmed that he remains fully accountable for the hurt his words caused to Jewish and Asian communities.

The episode underscores how past hateful statements can generate sustained public backlash, compelling even prestigious cultural institutions to reconsider high‑profile events.

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