New York's Metropolitan Museum of Art (aka 'The Met') is cancelling its planned exhibition honouring British fashion designer John Galliano.
The proposal had led to backlash from the Jewish community and beyond due to the designer's past antisemitic and racist statements.
A new Costume Institute exhibition and Met Gala theme "will be announced at a later date," organisers said.
Here's the latest.
Context
The Met's Costume Institute showcases one exhibition per year, launched on the first Monday in May with the Met Gala for around 500 guests (at a cost of roughly $75,000 per head).
The event has a practical purpose: to raise funds for the Costume Institute.
It's better known around the world as a melting pot where celebrity, high fashion, culture, and art collide.
Last month, the Met announced controversial designer John Galliano would be the focus of its 2027 Costume Institute exhibition.
Galliano
John Galliano was at the pinnacle of the fashion world for years as creative director of Christian Dior.
He was fired in 2011 when a series of resurfaced racist comments went viral, leading to his conviction in an antisemitism trial in France.
Among the remarks Galliano made to bar patrons, circulated on video, were "I love Hitler".
He also made derogatory comments to an Asian patron.
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Galliano made a comeback in 2014 when he was hired by Paris fashion house Maison Margiela, where he remained for a decade.
The 65-year-old designer was to become only the third living designer to be honoured with a solo show at the Costume Institute.
The Costume Institute promised the "John Galliano: Horizons" exhibition would address "the derogatory conduct that fundamentally altered [Galliano's] career and public reception," alongside his "extraordinary creative accomplishments".
In a letter to The Met urging them to reconsider honouring Galliano, Speaker of the New York City Council Julie Menin wrote:
"Our cultural institutions, particularly those that receive funding from the City of New York, have a responsibility to demonstrate that hatred and bigotry carry consequences".
Announcement
The Galliano Costume Institute exhibit (that was to be launched by the annual Met Gala in May 2027) will be replaced by another exhibit, the museum said on Monday.
"Following thoughtful discussions with John Galliano, we have together decided not to proceed," Max Hollein, director and CEO of the museum said.
Galliano said it was with "great sadness" that he decided it was "best for the exhibition not to take place at this time," adding: "I remain fully accountable for the pain caused by my words in the past."
Response
Menin welcomed the decision, saying the exhibition would have served "as a gut punch to the Jewish community," at a time of rising antisemitism.
Vogue's global editorial director Anna Wintour, who oversees the gala, called Galliano's decision to step aside "very courageous and a measure of the man he is".
A longtime Galliano supporter, Wintour added: "I believe this is the right decision, and both he and the Museum have my full support."
