John Galliano, the controversial British fashion designer, will be the subject of an exhibition at New York City’s Metropolitan Museum of Art starting next May 9. Due to run until January 9, 2028, it may well burnish his reputation as one of the most influential designers of the 20th century, but it may not necessarily improve his battered image. He will be the only designer apart from Yves Saint Laurent and Rei Kawakubo to have attained this singular honor at the museum.

Now 65, Galliano is a revered figure, having been the head of design at Christian Dior in Paris from 1996 to 2011. Under his leadership, Dior went from being “a well-mannered French heritage house” to “a global phenomenon,” writes Vanessa Friedman in The New York Times.

Galliano’s fortunes crashed following a disgraceful incident in a bar in Paris, where he exposed himself as an antisemite in an incriminating video. In a separate video, he was heard praising Adolf Hitler.

Subsequently, he was charged with a hate crime and lost his prestigious job, forcing him to embark on a period of repentance and rehabilitation.

Ever since his ignominious “Mel Gibson” moment in 2011, Galliano has been haunted by his hateful and still unexplained outburst.

Needless to say, he was not the first celebrity to engage in Jew bating.

In the summer of 2006, the Australian actor and director Mel Gibson, having been stopped for drunk driving in Malibu, California, launched into a tirade against the arresting police officer. Gibson........

© The Times of Israel (Blogs)