Met Gala to Feature John Galliano Retrospective After Consultation with Jewish Leaders

The Metropolitan Museum of Art convened a private meeting in May that included Vogue editorial director Anna Wintour, Costume Institute curator Andrew Bolton, designer John Galliano and several leading New York rabbis and Jewish community leaders. The gathering was intended to gauge the leaders’ views on possible sensitivities surrounding next year’s Met Gala, which will spotlight Galliano’s body of work, and to seek their approval.

Galliano, who led Dior from 1996 to 2011 and later became creative director of Maison Margiela in 2014, rose to global attention after a 2011 video captured him making antisemitic comments, leading to his dismissal from Dior, a conviction for a hate crime in France and a subsequent period of rehabilitation.

The museum has held multiple consultations with Jewish representatives over the past year as it prepares the exhibition, aiming to address any concerns and ensure the event proceeds with appropriate respect for the community.