The Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York cancels the John Galliano exhibition

A dramatic turn of events at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York: the museum has decided to cancel the exhibition dedicated to John Galliano, originally scheduled for spring 2027 as an annual event organised by the Costume Institute – the museum’s department dedicated to the history of fashion and costume – to coincide with the Met Gala, another annual event that raises funds for the museum.

The decision comes after months of controversy surrounding the British designer’s past; his most recent role had been as creative director at Maison Margiela (OTB Group). In particular, the controversy and doubts surrounding the exhibition – strongly championed by Anna Wintour, the driving force behind the Costume Institute and former editor-in-chief of American Vogue (now editorial director of the magazine’s global editions) – stemmed from anti-Semitic and anti-Asian remarks made over a decade ago. In 2011, Galliano was convicted in France of a hate crime in relation to those remarks. The designer subsequently apologised for his words and embarked on a journey of personal recovery, including through psychological support.

The Metropolitan had also stated that it had consulted with organisations and representatives of the Jewish community whilst preparing the exhibition. These efforts, however, were not enough to quell the criticism from politicians and public figures who, ever since the exhibition was announced at the end of July, had been calling on the museum to abandon the project. The cancellation was announced a few days after an investigation by the New York Times, which had detailed the pressure exerted on the museum, particularly through communications directed at the curators and the institution’s senior management. Among the critics was Arne Glimcher, founder of the Pace Gallery, who, according to the newspaper, had threatened to withdraw certain works he intended to bequeath to the Met. According to the New York Times, the museum’s board of trustees was due to discuss the future and the format of the exhibition in the coming days.

Further complicating matters is a scheduling coincidence. The Met Gala, traditionally held on the first Monday in May alongside the Costume Institute’s spring exhibition, will in fact fall on Yom HaShoah in 2027 – the day dedicated to the international commemoration of the victims of the Holocaust. In a statement, the director of the Metropolitan Museum, Max Hollein, explained that the decision was taken following “in-depth reflection and discussions with John Galliano”. The designer himself expressed “great sadness” at the cancellation, whilst reaffirming his responsibility for past statements and once again apologising to the Jewish and Asian communities.