Anna Wintour, the powerful Vogue editor, faced a significant setback with the cancellation of the Metropolitan Museum of Art's planned retrospective and Met Gala tribute to fashion designer John Galliano. The exhibition, scheduled for May 2027, was intended to celebrate Galliano's work, but strong opposition arose due to his 2011 antisemitic and racist remarks, which led to his dismissal from Dior.
The cancellation came after a growing pressure campaign from various groups, including New York City Council Speaker Julie Menin, wealthy museum donors, and Jewish leaders. While Galliano has continued to work in fashion, even collaborating with brands like Zara, the public and institutional response indicated that a commercial comeback does not equate to absolution or entitlement to high cultural honors like a Met exhibition. This situation underscored the distinction between being allowed to continue working and being fully reintegrated into the upper echelons of the cultural establishment.
Galliano himself announced his decision to step back, stating he did not want the controversy to overshadow the Met or the Costume Institute. Wintour, who had been a long-time supporter of Galliano and was instrumental in planning the event with Costume Institute curator Andrew Bolton, expressed her support for his "courageous" decision. This incident has raised questions about Wintour's judgment and potentially her legacy, especially following other criticisms surrounding the selection of Jeff Bezos and Lauren Sanchez Bezos as co-chairs for the Met Gala, which drew populist backlash over perceived ostentatious wealth. The Met has stated it will announce new plans for the exhibit and gala.
