Met Gala exhibition honoring John Galliano canceled

( NewsNation ) — The Metropolitan Museum of Art canceled its spring 2027 exhibit honoring designer John Galliano Monday, casting uncertainty over next year’s Met Gala, which annually serves as the opening event.

“Following thoughtful discussions with John Galliano, we have together decided not to proceed with the exhibition,” museum director Max Hollein said in a statement.

The Met’s July announcement to honor Galliano received widespread backlash due to antisemitic and racist statements the designer made in 2010 and 2011.

In a social media post, Galliano apologized for the remarks and withdrew from the exhibition.

“After much reflection and discussion with The Met and all those involved, I have decided, with great sadness, that it is best for the exhibition not to take place at this time,” he wrote. “I remain fully accountable for the pain caused by my words in the past, particularly the hurt I caused to the Jewish and Asian communities, and I remain deeply sorry for it.”

Despite being convicted in a French court for his words in 2011, Galliano remains a widely celebrated fixture of the fashion world for his designs . He reached widespread fame as creative director of Christian Dior, which dropped him after 15 years when the remarks surfaced. He then led the fashion house Maison Margiela in 2014, where he remained for a decade. He’s a favorite designer and longtime friend of Anna Wintour, who organizes the Met Gala each year.

The museum says the exhibit will be replaced by another show.