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Met Museum Scraps Planned John Galliano Exhibition

The Metropolitan Museum of Art has cancelled a planned retrospective of designer John Galliano following backlash over his past antisemitic and racist comments. Galliano, convicted of a hate crime in France in 2011, said he decided the exhibition should not go ahead, expressing accountability and regret. The museum said details for a new spring 2027 Costume Institute show will be announced later.

By Tertius News AI Desk 17 distinct · 20 mastheads · 20 articles Version 5 Coverage Aug 31, 2026 Published 1h ago

The Metropolitan Museum of Art has cancelled a planned retrospective exhibition of British fashion designer John Galliano, which was to have served as the theme for the 2027 Met Gala. The decision was announced on Monday in a joint statement from the museum and Galliano, following weeks of public criticism over the designer’s history of antisemitic and racist remarks.

Galliano, who was convicted of a hate crime by a French court in 2011, said in a statement posted on Instagram that after "much reflection and discussion with all those involved," he had decided "with great sadness" that the exhibition "not take place at this time." He added: "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 for it."

The Metropolitan Museum of Art’s director and CEO, Max Hollein, said in a separate statement: "Following thoughtful discussions with John Galliano, we have together decided not to proceed with the exhibition." The museum said details about a new spring Costume Institute exhibition and the 2027 Met Gala would be announced at a later date.

The planned show, titled "John Galliano: Horizons," was announced in early August and was to have opened in May 2027. It would have made Galliano only the third living designer to receive a solo exhibition at the Met’s Costume Institute, following Yves Saint Laurent and Rei Kawakubo.

The decision came amid opposition from Jewish leaders and other critics. New York City Council Speaker Julie Menin, who had written an open letter calling the plan "a mistake," said she was "pleased" the Met had agreed not to honour Galliano. "Museums such as The Met must be held to a high standard of inclusiveness and tolerance," Menin said, describing herself as the daughter of a Holocaust survivor.

Jonathan Greenblatt, CEO of the Anti-Defamation League, said Galliano had "ultimately recognised what the Met should have done from the start" and that the plan was "the wrong move at the wrong moment."

Anna Wintour, Vogue’s global editorial director and a Met trustee, called Galliano’s decision "very courageous and a measure of the man he is." Wintour, a longtime friend and supporter of Galliano, had been involved in the exhibition planning.

Galliano was dismissed as creative director of Christian Dior in 2011 after video emerged of him making antisemitic remarks at a Paris café. A court also heard he hurled racist insults at a woman of South Asian origin and declared his love for Hitler in a separate incident. He later apologised, attributing his behaviour to "work-related stress and multiple addictions." After his conviction, Galliano spent several years attempting to rehabilitate his career and returned to fashion in 2014 as creative director of Maison Margiela, a position he held for a decade.

In his statement, Galliano said he understood that "meaningful atonement is not achieved through an exhibition, institutional recognition or a single public gesture," adding that it is "a continuing responsibility, demonstrated through listening, learning and one’s conduct over time." He also said he did not want to distract from the work of the Costume Institute and recognised that an exhibition honouring his work "would be painful for some."

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Associated Press

Framing: The headline emphasizes the cancellation of the exhibit on John Galliano, focusing on the action taken by the Metropolitan Museum of Art.

as of Aug 31, 2026, 2:45 PM UTC

Facts Included:

The Metropolitan Museum of Art is canceling its planned exhibit honoring British designer John Galliano.
The exhibit had led to severe backlash in the Jewish community and beyond because of Galliano’s past antisemitic and racist statements.
The museum said Monday that the exhibit, planned as the May 2027 spring Costume Institute show launching the annual Met Gala, will be replaced by another show to be announced later.
Max Hollein, director and CEO of the museum, announced the decision in a statement.
Galliano said he had decided, with great sadness, that it is best for the exhibition not to take place at this time.
Galliano said he remains fully accountable for the pain caused by his words in the past, particularly the hurt caused to the Jewish and Asian communities.
Galliano was fired from Christian Dior after a series of racist and antisemitic comments from 2010 and 2011 surfaced and led to his conviction in France.
Galliano made a comeback in 2014 when he was hired by Maison Margiela.
New York City Council Speaker Julie Menin praised the decision to cancel, saying she had numerous and lengthy meetings with The Met.
Menin called the decision correct, citing the harm and pain caused and the rising time of antisemitism.