The Metropolitan Museum of Art has decided to cancel its upcoming exhibition honoring British designer John Galliano due to backlash from the Jewish community and others over his history of making antisemitic and racist remarks. The exhibit, originally scheduled to be the centerpiece of the Met Gala in May 2027, will be replaced with a different show, according to a statement released by Max Hollein, the museum’s director and CEO.

After discussions with Galliano, it was mutually agreed not to proceed with the exhibition. In a joint statement, Galliano expressed regret for the pain his past words had caused, specifically to the Jewish and Asian communities. Despite being a prominent figure in the fashion industry for his innovative designs, Galliano faced repercussions from his previous offensive comments, leading to his departure from Christian Dior in 2011.

Following his dismissal from Dior, Galliano worked on rebuilding his reputation and eventually returned to the fashion scene in 2014 with Maison Margiela. The planned Met exhibition would have made him the third living designer to have a solo show at the Costume Institute.

The decision to cancel the exhibit came after consultations with Jewish community leaders, who had expressed concerns about the potential impact of honoring Galliano. New York City Council Speaker Julie Menin, a vocal critic of the exhibition, applauded the museum’s choice to call off the show, citing the current climate of rising antisemitism and the harm it could cause to the Jewish community.