The Met Cancels John Galliano Exhibit After Weeks of Antisemitism Backlash

A High-Fashion Honor Derailed by a Hateful Past

The exhibition, titled "John Galliano: Horizons," was met with intense backlash when it was announced in late July because of the fashion designer's history of making antisemitic remarks. On Monday, August 31, the Metropolitan Museum of Art made it official: the show was canceled. The decision came after severe backlash from the Jewish community and beyond over the designer's past antisemitic and racist statements.

The "John Galliano: Horizons" exhibition had been scheduled to run from May 9, 2027, to January 9, 2028, and was set to focus on "one of the most inventive and influential designers of the past four decades." Galliano was set to become only the third living designer to be the subject of a solo show at the Met's Costume Institute. That distinction will now go unclaimed — at least for him.

The Scandal That Never Fully Faded

The decision to highlight Galliano's work sparked widespread controversy due to his history of antisemitic and racist comments — remarks made in 2010 and 2011 that led to his dismissal from Christian Dior and a hate crime conviction in France. A video had surfaced of him declaring his admiration for Adolf Hitler, and a Paris court later convicted him for "public insults based on race, religion, ethnicity or origin."

Despite being convicted in the 2011 antisemitism trial, Galliano remained a widely celebrated fixture of the fashion world for his designs. After being dropped from Dior, he led the fashion house Maison Margiela in 2014, where he remained for a decade. His rehabilitation within the industry was largely accepted — until the Met's announcement forced a public reckoning that the fashion world could no longer sidestep.

Pressure From City Hall to the Newsroom

In recent days, The New York Times ran a front-page story about the growing furor around the planned exhibit, partially sparked by a letter from Julie Menin, the speaker of the New York City Council. She sent a letter to museum director Max Hollein, curator Andrew Bolton, and Anna Wintour calling the planned exhibit "a serious mistake." Numerous donors and supporters of the museum also expressed opposition.

The mayor's office issued a statement saying, "John Galliano's repeated use of antisemitic language is vile," while also noting that the Met is an independent institution. The museum had held discussions with Jewish community leaders before announcing the show, hoping to ward off anticipated backlash — but the anger only increased. In the end, the weight of that opposition proved insurmountable.

What Comes Next for the Met and the Gala

Museum director and CEO Max Hollein announced in a statement: "Following thoughtful discussions with John Galliano, we have together decided not to proceed with the exhibition." Galliano himself said: "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." Met Gala chair Anna Wintour, a longtime friend and supporter of the designer, called his decision "very courageous and a measure of the man he is," adding, "I believe this is the right decision, and both he and the Museum have my full support."

A new spring Costume Institute exhibition and more information on the 2027 Met Gala will be announced at a later date, according to the museum. The stakes are significant — the spring Costume Institute show sets the theme for the Met Gala, one of the most-watched celebrity events in the world. Whoever — or whatever — the Met chooses next will carry the weight of this moment, and the institution will be under close scrutiny to demonstrate that its choices reflect the values it claims to uphold.