Next year's Met Gala in New York could be rescheduled due to a controversy surrounding its planned tribute to British fashion designer John Galliano. The fashion fundraiser is currently scheduled for May 3, which coincides with Yom HaShoah, the Jewish day of Holocaust remembrance. Religious leaders are reportedly angered by the tribute, and some patrons have threatened to withdraw their contributions.
Galliano's career was significantly impacted in 2011 when footage surfaced of him making antisemitic remarks at a Paris cafe, including statements such as "I love Hitler, he is wonderful." He subsequently spent years working to make amends and has since returned to the fashion industry, joining Maison Margiela in 2014.
Anna Wintour, the gala's chairman, has defended the decision to honor Galliano, stating that his career should not be solely defined by that singular incident. The planned theme for the event is "John Galliano: Horizons," intended as a celebration of the designer's work. Galliano, who rose to prominence in the 1990s at fashion houses like Givenchy and Dior, has been a subject of renewed public interest following a 2023 documentary about his life.
Galliano is one of only a few living designers to have an entire Met Gala dedicated to their work, following in the footsteps of Yves Saint Laurent and Rei Kawakubo. The exhibition is being curated by Andrew Bolton, who also organized the 2011 Met Gala honoring Alexander McQueen. Wintour stated that the exhibition will explore the full scope of Galliano's career, acknowledging the "darkness in John's past" as part of what has shaped him.