John Galliano is a fashion genius. An icon. Now the Metropolitan Museum of Art has caved to pressure from Jewish leaders who want him to pay for drunken comments he made some 15 years ago, apologized for, and paid for with career setbacks. These same leaders can't do anything about the horrific antisemitism on display in the Democrat Party and with the DSA, so they decide to cancel an artist instead, and now the public will pay the price.
Galliano's student show for the Central Saint Martins College of Art and Design was inspired by the French Revolution and his career took off. He wove historical references into contemporary looks and was ushered by Anna Wintour into the arms of funders who would bankroll his designs. He was the first British designer to head a French fashion house, Givenchy. The Met would have showcased all of these early designs.
Then he moved on to Dior, creating the Saddle handbag and other must-haves, and the rest is fashion history. Except, of course, for the antisemitic comments—which is why he was fired by Dior. In 2011, The Sun dredged up a video of Galliano saying, "I love Hitler." He was also found guilty by a French tribunal of "hate crimes" for making antisemitic comments at a cafe. He was drunk during both incidents.
In an interview with Charlie Rose, he spoke about the incident and the canceling, saying it hindered his creativity because he associated being creative with the comments he'd made and the aftermath. But he also said that he hadn't initiated the comments. And this is not something that anyone mentions. Prior to saying "I love Hitler," the video shows others asking him if he's Aryan.
Now he's been canceled by the Met for the same reason. He was set to be honored by the Costume Institute with an exhibit featuring a retrospective of his work, which would have included his work at Maison Margiela, where he came on as creative director for a 10-year stint in 2014. But after backlash, he decided to withdraw from the exhibit rather than put his backers in the position of having to defend him.
He thanked Anna Wintour, who had pushed for the exhibit, and Max Hollein and Andrew Bolton, and said he was grateful to have even been considered by the Met, which he'd "admired," he said, "throughout his life."
He apologized—again—to those who were hurt by the comments publicized by The Sun in 2011. At the time, he said, "It's the worst thing I have said in my life, but I didn't mean it." The apology wasn't accepted then, and it wasn't accepted now. In the interim, he went to rehab, he did a tour meeting with Jewish leaders to ask forgiveness for his remarks, who said he was "sincere."
The show was announced with the Met in July and it didn't take long for Elisha Wiesel, daughter of Holocaust survivor and author Elie Wiesel, as well as New York City Council Speaker Julie Menin and others to demand that the show be canceled because of his comments 15 years ago.
The UJA-Federation of New York said, "At a time of rising antisemitism, honoring Mr. Galliano sends the wrong message." Anna Wintour remained a steadfast supporter of Galliano throughout the controversy, as she had been throughout his entire career. "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."
The Met is planning to announce a different exhibit after the determination that it is somehow right and just to damn a man and his contribution to art forever due to one comment for which he has not only apologized but exhibited full remorse. Whatever they bring will be second best.
Mary Morgan of Pop Culture Crisis called out the Met for letting the show go, calling them "cowards" and blasting them for canceling "artistic innovation" and trying to "erase" him from fashion history.
Antisemitism is a bad thing and it's repeatedly called out by Jewish leaders and others who know how to behave in a civilized society–none of whom seem to be Democrat leaders or at all involved with the DSA. Those who condemn antisemitism do so in forums where they feel they can have a symbolic impact because they are not able to have one politically. The "rising antisemitism" the UJA-Federation talks about has nothing to do with fashion and nothing to do with comments made by Galliano 15 years ago and has everything to do with leftist leaders who are embracing Islamism and the Muslim vote knowing full well that it endangers Jews both in the US and internationally and don't care at all.
Galliano created beautiful works of fashion, worn by Hollywood's most iconic women from Nicole Kidman to Zendaya, and inspired the imaginations of so many women who realized they could bring more than just boring basic capsule wardrobed into their closets and out on the town. The Jewish leaders standing astride their high horses condemning a man who knows what beauty is look ugly and petty for doing it. The Met caved to their demand for censure and they're pathetic and weak for doing it.
