John Galliano pulls Met exhibition after racism backlash rocks 2027 plans

John Galliano has withdrawn from the Metropolitan Museum of Art's planned 2027 exhibition following renewed criticism over his past antisemitic, racist and anti Asian remarks.

The Met and Galliano announced on August 31 that John Galliano: Horizons, which had been scheduled to open on May 9, 2027 and run through January 9, 2028, will no longer proceed. The decision comes only weeks after the museum announced the exhibition as its spring 2027 Costume Institute presentation.

Galliano addressed the decision in a statement, accepting responsibility for the harm caused by his previous comments. He specifically acknowledged the pain experienced by Jewish and Asian communities and expressed remorse for his conduct.

The designer also argued that an exhibition or institutional honour could not serve as a substitute for continued accountability. He said meaningful atonement requires ongoing listening, learning and responsible conduct.

Andrew Bolton, curator in charge of the Costume Institute, also supported the decision. He acknowledged the concerns and pain surrounding the planned exhibition while stressing the responsibility of museums to examine difficult histories carefully and honestly. Anna Wintour, a Met trustee, described Galliano's decision as courageous and said she supported the outcome.

The cancellation marks a dramatic reversal for a project that had been presented as the first major museum exhibition devoted to Galliano's career. The original exhibition was designed to examine his work across four decades, including his collections for his own label, Givenchy, Christian Dior and Maison Margiela. It was also intended to address the racist, antisemitic and anti Asian conduct that caused a major rupture in his career.

Galliano's past controversy dates back to 2011, when he was filmed making antisemitic remarks in Paris. He was subsequently dismissed from Christian Dior and his own fashion label. A Paris court later convicted him of public insults based on race, religion, ethnicity or origin.

The planned Met exhibition had therefore been framed around both Galliano's creative achievements and the consequences of his conduct. Its cancellation follows renewed public debate over whether the museum should have proceeded with a retrospective dedicated to his work.

The decision also leaves the spring 2027 Costume Institute schedule unsettled. The Met has confirmed that details of a replacement exhibition and the 2027 Met Gala will be announced later. The museum has not yet revealed the new theme or whether the gala's traditional schedule will change.

Galliano had been expected to become only the third living fashion designer to receive a major Costume Institute exhibition, following Yves Saint Laurent in 1983 and Rei Kawakubo in 2017. His withdrawal now removes one of the most anticipated fashion exhibitions from the Met's 2027 calendar.