John Galliano behaved appallingly 15 years ago. Surely his time in the wilderness is up

September 2, 2026 — 3:45pm

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Initially, there was palpable excitement for next year’s Met Gala. News that fashion designer John Galliano was to be celebrated for the 2027 edition – one of the most watched red carpets in the calendar – was considered long overdue. As an industry-favourite from his early collections, Galliano grew to fame following his tenure at Givenchy and Dior in the 1990s and 2000s, becoming a fashion superstar after reviving Dior’s New Look while lending it post-modern theatricality, and dressing Kylie Minogue, Madonna and Princess Diana.

But the news soured as online chatter increased around the suitability of Galliano for the retrospective, considering a series of racist and anti-Semitic remarks that resulted in his firing from the top job at Dior in 2011.

Finally, in the grand tradition of online cancellation culture, we saw Galliano’s Instagram announcement that he had decided to step down from the exhibition.

Galliano addressed the racist and antisemitic remarks he made while an alcoholic and addict, saying: “After much reflection and discussion with all those involved, I have decided, with great sadness,........

© Brisbane Times