Why will John Galliano no longer be at the Met Gala 2027? The controversy that changed the plans
The designer decided to put the Costume Institute’s planned exhibition about his career on hold after weeks of criticism over his past.
John Galliano will no longer be the focus of the fashion exhibition accompanying the Met Gala 2027 , and behind this change is a controversy that began almost as soon as the Metropolitan Museum of Art announced the project.
The announcement that sparked controversy
The exhibition, titled “John Galliano: Horizons,” had been announced on July 31 and would have made the designer only the third living creator to receive this type of tribute. However, the decision reignited questions surrounding Galliano’s actions in 2011 , when he made antisemitic and racist comments that had a major impact on his career and ultimately led to his conviction on two hate-related offenses in Paris.
And although everything initially appeared to be moving forward normally, tensions surrounding the project increased in recent days. Some Met members and donors expressed concerns about the exhibition, while Julie Menin, president of the New York City Council , publicly called on the museum to reverse its decision. As a result, the controversy began to move beyond the fashion world and directly reached the institution and those responsible for organizing the event.
Galliano decided to step aside
Ultimately, it was Galliano himself who asked for the exhibition to be postponed in an effort to prevent the controversy from continuing to grow. In his message, the designer acknowledged the harm caused by his past words and said that an exhibition dedicated to his career should not become a distraction for the Costume Institute or a painful experience for people affected by his actions.
That is why Galliano will no longer be part of the Met Gala 2027 plans: the controversy lies in the tension between two sides of his history . On one hand, a career defined by enormous creative influence, from Dior to Maison Margiela; on the other, a past that returned to the center of the conversation when the Met decided to dedicate an exhibition to him. For now, the museum will have to rethink both the spring exhibition and the details surrounding the Met Gala 2027, with a new proposal expected to be announced later.
