Anna Wintour, global editorial director of Vogue, has publicly supported fashion designer John Galliano's decision to withdraw from the 2027 Met Gala and the exhibition planned in his honor. Galliano's participation had drawn criticism due to his 2011 antisemitic outburst.
Wintour stated in a release on the Met Gala's official website that Galliano's choice to withdraw was "very courageous and a measure of the man he is." She added, "I believe this is the right decision, and both he and the Museum have my full support."
The decision to honor Galliano at the annual gala had reportedly caused concern among some Condé Nast staffers, with one insider telling Page Six that "nobody wants to be the person who stands up and says, ‘This is a bad idea.’"
Galliano announced his withdrawal on Monday, citing a desire to avoid placing The Met in a difficult position or distracting from the Costume Institute's work. He acknowledged the pain caused by his past words, particularly to the Jewish and Asian communities, and stated his continued regret. "I understand that meaningful atonement is not achieved through an exhibition, institutional recognition or a single public gesture," Galliano said. "It is a continuing responsibility, demonstrated through listening, learning and one’s conduct over time."
The controversy resurfaced earlier this month when Galliano was announced as the honoree for the 2027 event. In 2011, Galliano was fired from Dior after making drunken, racist remarks in Paris. He subsequently entered rehab and took a hiatus from the fashion industry before returning in 2014 as creative director for Maison Margiela.
Prior to the Met Gala announcement, Galliano and Wintour reportedly met with several rabbis and Jewish leaders in New York, who suggested he deserved a second chance. Jonathan Greenblatt, CEO of the Anti-Defamation League, told Page Six that while the ADL accepted Galliano's apology long ago and believes he has reckoned with his past, "timing matters." He added, "Antisemitism is surging… and Jewish New Yorkers are feeling unheard by their city’s leaders."
When the honoree announcement was initially made, Wintour had defended the decision, telling The New York Times that Galliano's career was not "defined by a single moment" and that "there [was] no one more deserving of an exhibition of this scale."