World Jewish News

In 2011, a French court ruled that the 51 year-old John Galliano, the then Paris-based Dior designer, had made “public insults based on origin, religious affiliation, race or ethnicity”.

ADL backs shamed ‘anti-Semite’ designer John Galliano, insisting ‘individuals can change their hearts and minds as long as they

Disgraced former Dior head designer John Galliano was given an unlikely lifeline following his 2011 conviction for anti-Semitic rants in the Le Marais district of Paris, after the Anti-Defamation League’s National Director Abraham H. Foxman issued an official statement declaring the fallen fashion icon had “accepted full responsibility for his previous remarks and understands that hurtful comments have no place in our society”.
Confirming the group had met with the designer on several occasions to encourage him to accept responsibility for his widely-condemned actions, Foxman added: “Mr. Galliano has worked arduously in changing his worldview and dedicated a significant amount of time to researching, reading, and learning about the evils of anti-Semitism and bigotry.”
Attempting to a draw a line under continued criticism of the British-born designer, after media reports and a subsequent legal case against him cost him his high profile fashion house post and accompanying accolades, he concluded; “We believe that individuals can change their hearts and minds as long as they demonstrate true contrition.”
The official ADL comment appeared to have been meticulously timed after Galliano had issued a statement of his own earlier Thursday revealing he “remains committed to making amends to those I have hurt”.
In 2011, a French court ruled that the 51 year-old Paris-based designer had made “public insults based on origin, religious affiliation, race or ethnicity” in several incidents around a bar close to where he lived in the traditionally-Jewish Le Marais region of the city.
In one of the incidents, Galliano was accused of proclaiming his love for Adolf Hitler and telling Jewish-looking customers that their mothers should have been gassed. He subsequently blamed his actions on long-term drug and alcohol addictions.
The final nail was sealed in the coffin of his post at Christian Dior after the Israel-born Jewish actress Nathalie Portman herself the face of one of their high-profile fragrances, refused to work with Galliano on principle.
He was fired soon after. Following his conviction by the French court, the French government last year also announced they were revoking his 2009 Legion of Honour medal, as President Francois Hollande signed an official decree refusing him the right to wear the medal.

by: Shari Ryness

EJP