John Galliano Is Officially Out of the 2027 Met Gala—Here’s What Happens Next

Designer John Galliano withdrew from the 2027 Met Gala exhibition after facing backlash over past antisemitic and racist comments that previously led to his termination as Dior’s creative director in 2011.Galliano released a lengthy statement acknowledging the pain caused by his words about the Jewish and Asian communities, emphasizing that meaningful atonement requires ongoing accountability beyond institutional recognition.The Met Gala will proceed in 2027 but with a new exhibition, as the museum and Galliano jointly decided his show should not take place at this time to avoid distracting from the Costume Institute’s work.John Galliano has officially withdrawn his exhibition from the 2027 Met Gala, per a joint statement released by the designer and the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City on Monday, August 31. After Galliano’s involvement with fashion’s biggest night was announced last month, the polarizing figure received backlash for previous antisemitic and racist comments targeted at Jewish and Asian people.You may be wondering what happens next now that John Galliano has pulled out of the 2027 Met Gala. Let’s investigate.Victor Virgile//Getty ImagesJump to:Why did John Galliano pull out of the 2027 Met Gala?Is the 2027 Met Gala canceled?Who will replace John Galliano at the 2027 Met Gala?Galliano pulled out of the 2027 Met Gala months after political and civic leaders raised concerns over his previous racist and antisemitic comments that led to his termination as Dior’s creative director in 2011.The British designer shared the news in a lengthy statement, writing, in part, “I am profoundly grateful to The Metropolitan Museum of Art, and particularly to Max Hollein, Andrew Bolton and Anna Wintour, for the extraordinary honour of proposing an exhibition devoted to my work. To have my creative journey considered by an institution that I have admired throughout my life moved me more deeply than I can express.”He then dropped the bombshell that he would not be participating in next year’s Met Gala, adding, “After much reflection and discussion with all those involved, I have decided, with great sadness, that it is best for the exhibition not to take place at this time.”“I remain fully accountable for the pain caused by my words in the past, particularly the hurt I caused to the Jewish and Asian communities, and I remain deeply sorry. I understand that meaningful atonement is not achieved through an exhibition, institutional recognition or a single public gesture. It is a continuing responsibility, demonstrated through listening, learning and one’s conduct over time.”Galliano emphasized that he doesn’t want his scandal to “distract from the remarkable work of the Costume Institute” and expressed his “deepest gratitude” to those who stood by his side as he has been on his sobriety journey since 2011.Former Vogue editor-in-chief Anna Wintour, who also serves as the Met Gala’s lead chair, separately wrote, “John’s decision that the exhibition devoted to his work should not take place at this time is very courageous and a measure of the man he is. I believe this is the right decision, and both he and the Museum have my full support.”Is the 2027 Met Gala canceled? The 2027 Met Gala hasn’t been canceled in light of the news, but according to a press release from the Met, it “will not proceed as planned” since Galliano pulled out.In a separate press release last month, the museum claimed the original exhibit, John Galliano: Horizons, was meant to “consider how artistic achievement should be understood alongside ethical accountability.”WWD//Getty ImagesWho will replace John Galliano at the 2027 Met Gala?While Galliano and the Met just announced his withdrawal, there isn’t any information on a new exhibit just yet. According to the Met, “Information on a new spring Costume Institute exhibition and the 2027 Met Gala will be announced at a later date.”