John Galliano’s 2027 Met Gala exhibition will not go on as planned, the British fashion designer announced on Monday. His “Horizons” theme has seemingly been scrapped altogether due to his past controversies — particularly, “the hurt” he caused to the Jewish and Asian communities.
“I am profoundly grateful to the Metropolitan Museum of Art, and particularly to Max Hollein, Andrew Bolton and Anna Wintour, for the extraordinary honor of proposing an exhibition devoted to my work,” Galliano shared on Instagram. “To have my creative journey considered by an institution that I have admired throughout my life moved me more deeply than I can express. I will remain forever grateful for the confidence, care and scholarship that Max, Andrew, Anna and the entire Met team brought to this project.”
“After much reflection and discussion with all those involved, I have decided, with great sadness, that it is best for the exhibition not to take place at this time. 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,” he continued. “I understand that meaningful atonement is not achieved through an exhibition, institutional recognition or a single public gesture, it is a continuing responsibility demonstrated through listening, learning and one’s conduct over time. I do not want the debate surrounding me to place the Met in a difficult position or to distract from the remarkable work of the Costume Institute. I also recognize and respect that an exhibition honoring my work would be painful for some.”
Galliano was found guilty of committing anti-semitic abuse in 2011 after a public outburst in Paris in 2010, ultimately paying a fine, damages and court fees. He has since been living a sober life, per his statement.
“I would also like to express my deepest gratitude to all those who have guided, supported and accompanied me throughout these 15 years of sobriety and recovery from alcoholism and addiction. Your wisdom, patience and humanity have helped me more than I can ever adequately express. I remain profoundly indebted to you for giving me, as you promised, a life better than I could ever. ever have dreamt of,” Galliano concluded. “My gratitude to the Max, Andrew and Anna remains profound and enduring. Their generosity, humanity and belief in the importance of fashion as art, culture and history, as well as their understanding of human fragility and the possibility of growth, will remain with me always.”
“Following thoughtful discussions with John Galliano, we have together decided not to proceed with the exhibition,” museum director/CEO Max Hollein said in another statement.
“After my numerous and lengthy meetings and conversations with The Met, I am pleased that they have agreed to not honor John Galliano,” New York City Council Speaker Julie Menin added in her own. “From the beginning, I have told them that I strongly disagreed with this decision, and at this rising time of antisemitism, it had served as a gut punch to the Jewish community. This is the correct decision, as the harm and pain this was causing was simply unacceptable.”
‘John Galliano: Horizons’ would have taken place on May 3, 2027, for the Metropolitan Museum of Art’s Costume Institute, following this spring’s Costume Art theme from co-chairs Beyoncé, Nicole Kidman and Venus Williams.
TheWrapBook: The Art of Television 2026