The planned "John Galliano: Horizons" exhibition at the Metropolitan Museum of Art and its accompanying Met Gala theme for 2027 have been canceled, a decision announced Monday by the designer and the museum. The joint statement indicated the cancellation was made after weeks of public criticism.
"I do not want the debate surrounding me to place the Met in a difficult position or to distract from the remarkable work of the Costume Institute," Galliano stated in a release published on Instagram. "I also recognise and respect that an exhibition honouring my work would be painful for some."
Galliano, 65, was fired from Christian Dior in 2011 following the emergence of a video showing him making antisemitic remarks. A French court convicted him of hate speech offenses in 2011 for remarks made in separate incidents. The designer has cited 15 years of sobriety and recovery, and has engaged in dialogues with Jewish leaders since his outbursts.
The 2027 Met Gala was scheduled for the first Monday in May, which coincides with Yom HaShoah, also known as Holocaust Remembrance Day. The retrospective was slated to open that same evening at the museum's Anna Wintour Costume Center.
Anna Wintour, Vogue's global editorial director and a Met trustee, had been a vocal proponent of the exhibition. Earlier this month, she stated that "there is no one more deserving of an exhibition of this scale." Following the cancellation, Wintour called the decision "very courageous and a measure of the man he is."
News of the cancellation has elicited varied reactions within the fashion industry. Some insiders viewed the decision as a victory for tolerance, while others expressed disappointment over the loss of what they saw as an opportunity for dialogue and reflection.
Models and designers took to social media to express their views. Anja Rubik questioned the incentive for apology if forgiveness is not offered, while others, like stylist Garren, lamented the perceived lack of grace and forgiveness in the industry. Model Teddy Quinlivan shared a personal tribute, crediting Galliano with supporting her career when others in fashion would not.
Veteran fashion journalist Suzy Menkes reflected on artistry and judgment, suggesting that "the creative soul displays its truth. And is judged accordingly. But not always with the same vision or conclusion." Model and actress Hari Nef drew a parallel to the Met's 2012 "Impossible Conversations" exhibition, arguing that Galliano's legacy, while complex, was not "impossible" to explore.
However, public officials and some museum donors had actively campaigned against the exhibition. New York City Council speaker Julie Menin, whose family are Holocaust survivors, had lobbied the museum, calling the cancellation "a victory for tolerance, inclusion and standing up for the right thing." Other donors reportedly threatened to withdraw support if the exhibit proceeded.
The Metropolitan Museum of Art has stated that a replacement spring 2027 exhibition and gala theme will be announced at a later date.