NEW YORK: The 2027 Met Gala has been thrown into a fresh storm of controversy after fashion designer John Galliano and the Metropolitan Museum of Art called off a planned exhibition celebrating his career, following fierce backlash over his past antisemitic and racist remarks.
The decision came after renewed scrutiny of Galliano’s 2011 scandal, sparking a wave of buzz through the fashion world, turning what was expected to be a major celebration of Galliano’s four-decade career into a heated debate over accountability, redemption and institutional recognition.
The Met announced the exhibition in July, describing Galliano as one of the most influential designers of the past four decades. The show was scheduled to run from May 9, 2027, through Jan. 9, 2028, and would have featured his garments, accessories, sketches, research books and archival material from across his career.
Galliano was filmed making antisemitic and racist remarks while intoxicated at a Paris bar. The controversy cost him his position as Dior’s creative director, while a French court later convicted him over public insults based on race, religion, ethnicity or origin.
Amid the growing frenzy, he said he remained accountable for the pain caused by his past words and expressed deep remorse toward the Jewish and Asian communities. He also said he did not want the debate surrounding him to distract from the Costume Institute’s work.
Anna Wintour, Vogue’s global editorial director and a longtime force behind the Met Gala, backed the decision. She called Galliano’s move “very courageous” and said both he and the museum had her full support.
The Met also confirmed that it will announce a new spring 2027 Costume Institute exhibition and details of the Met Gala at a later date. For now, Galliano’s fashion legacy remains at the center of a larger conversation.
