Met cancels John Galliano exhibition amid backlash

Sun Sep 06 2026 07:12:20 GMT+0000 (Coordinated Universal Time)

The New York Met scrubs the John Galliano exhibition after criticism of his antisemitic past, leading the designer to cancel.

The Metropolitan Museum of Art has withdrawn its planned John Galliano exhibition after it drew sharp criticism over the designer’s 2011 antisemitic conviction. Galliano stated that honouring his work would cause pain and that a show would be inappropriate at this time, noting his 15‑year sobriety as part of his atonement. Celebrities and civil‑rights leaders, including Anna Wintour and the Anti‑Defamation League, applauded the cancellation as a necessary step. The decision will shift the 2027 Met Gala’s theme and sparks a wider debate over accountability and art exhibition practices.

New York Met pulls John Galliano show amid controversy

The Met will no longer host the exhibition “John Galliano: Horizons” that was set to open in May next year. After the artist’s 2011 conviction for making antisemitic remarks, the event faced strong backlash from the Jewish community and civil‑rights groups.

Galliano has said he felt it would be painful for some people to celebrate his work and that it was best to cancel the show. He also highlighted his 15‑year sobriety, saying that “meaningful atonement isn’t achieved by displays.”

Anna Wintour, Met trustee and Gala co‑chair, praised Galliano’s decision as courageous, and she expressed full support for the cancellation. Others, including New York City Council speaker Julie Menin and the Anti‑Defamation League, said honouring the designer would be “misguided” at a time of rising antisemitism.

Without the exhibition, the Met also changed the theme for its 2027 Met Gala, which will now feature a different designer. The incident sparked a wider conversation about accountability for public figures and how institutions should respond to past transgressions.