Hours before the 2024 Met Gala, Galliano’s exhibition is already controversial

This most fashionable gathering on the planet is certainly one of the most followed on social networks. We’re talking about the Met Gala, an ultra-glamorous fundraising evening traditionally held at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City on the first Monday in May. This year the event was headed by 1972 Vogue: The subject of American and Condé Nast artistic director Anna Wintour Sleeping beauties (“Sleeping Belles: Waking up fashion”, in French). But if the red carpet is ready to welcome its share of celebrities on Monday night, May 6, the magazine. The Cut: reveals that there seems to be nothing in the clothing institute.

According to the American media, Andrew Bolton (Since 2017, chief curator of the MET Costume Institute, editor’s note) and Anna Wintour planned to dedicate an exhibition to the works of John Galliano this year. An almost logical tribute, knowing that the British designer has been gaining popularity since his highly regarded haute couture show in Paris on January 25, and that his career is the focus of the documentary. High and Low – John Galliano was released in the United Kingdom on March 8. John Galliano was even invited to look back at his last haute couture show in a recent video Vogue: American published on YouTube.

Fear of negative reactions

Nevertheless, The Cut: shows that several sources briefed on the project indicate that the exhibition will be “on indefinite hiatus,” with the directors of the Metropolitan Museum of Art fearing a public backlash. “It is reported that some members of the museum’s board of directors also intervened to stop the exhibition,” the article said. A fear that can be explained by this very controversial moment of John Galliano, who was tried in 2011 for anti-Semitic insults during several arguments in a Paris bar. Then the stylist was fired from the house of Dior, where he worked as an artistic director for more than fifteen years. Then, after four years away from the catwalks, he returned to fashion, fronting the Maison Margiela collection in 2014.

In a hyper-connected society where the slightest misstep sparks heated controversy on social media, everything has to be taken with a grain of salt. Even more anticipated at the Met Gala, where the 2023 edition was covered by more than 2.6 million mentions on social media between 18:00 and 21:45. Last year, the Met Gala paid tribute to Karl Lagerfeld. many criticized the organizers for highlighting a stylist who had made grossophobic remarks.