Melissa Rivers stated that her late mother, Joan Rivers, would have strongly disapproved of a Met Gala theme honoring fashion designer John Galliano.
"He was such a force of nature in fashion and design… Is it a great time to honor his work? Unfortunately, no, not a great read of the room," Melissa Rivers told Page Six Style. She noted the decision came at a time when hate crimes are increasing, particularly given Galliano's history of alleged anti-Asian and anti-Jewish remarks.
Galliano and the Met Gala reversed course on the planned tribute one month after its announcement, following widespread opposition. Rivers suggested that while her mother would have disliked the theme, she did appreciate Galliano's designs. "One of my favorite dresses was Galliano. Oh my god, one of the other favorite dresses was Galliano!" Rivers recalled, adding that these gowns were lost in the 2025 Los Angeles fires.
Rivers commented on Anna Wintour's leadership, acknowledging her brilliance but noting that she sometimes misreads the public mood. "People rarely say no [to her], and in the past, she’s made some mistakes of not reading the room correctly," Rivers said.
She also speculated that many publicists were relieved by the cancellation, as they would have had to prepare their celebrity clients to discuss complex issues of art, redemption, and bias. "I’m sure people would have been very uncomfortable," Rivers commented. "A lot of the publicists were white-knuckling it."
Regarding potential future themes, Rivers expressed skepticism about a Dolly Parton tribute, deeming it potentially too narrow and leading to impersonations. She also joked that a "Great West" theme might be dominated by Ralph Lauren. However, she voiced a strong aversion to a theme centered on miniskirts, citing the discomfort of sitting in such attire on public transport or airplanes. "This is my biggest fashion ick," she stated.