A Paris court pronounced John Galliano guilty of making anti-Semitic slurs. The designer won’t serve jail time and has been given a suspended sentence of 10,000 Euro in fines. However there are some discrepancies on the quantum of the verdict. Womens Wear Daily (WWD) reports that Galliano has been slammed a fine of 17,500 Euros, while BBC is reporting it to be only 10,000 Euros.
John Galliano was absent from the proceedings, and according to GQ, who has been Tweeting live from the hearing, Galliano has to pay the fine “Only if [he] starts up with the slander again.” A report on NY1 confirms that Galliano will not have to pay the fine unless he repeats his crime within the next five years. Seems Galliano got off easy!
All victims said that they do not believe that Galliano is truly anti-Semitic or racist. Galliano’s lawyer said his client will continue to seek treatment for his addictions to drugs and alcohol.
Galliano stood trial on June 22 on charges of “public insults based on origin, religious affiliation, race or ethnicity” that took place on two separate occasions last February at a Paris cafe, La Perle–charges that cost Galliano his job as creative director at Dior. During the trial the designer said that he had no recollection of making any antiSemitic or racist slurs but after watching the infamous “I love Hitler” viral video Galliano apologized “for all the sadness this affair has caused.” He also admitted he was suffering from a “triple addiction.”
So the story of John Galliano’s downfall finally comes to end. As he continues to seek treatment, hopefully he can restore his image, get clean, and go back to doing what he does best–making beautiful clothes.
John Galliano has been fired by Christian Dior. Company C.E.O. Sidney Toledano, who is of Jewish heritage, called Galliano’s behavior “odious”and said in a statement, “I unequivocally condemn the statements made by John Galliano, which are in total contradiction to the longstanding core values of Christian Dior.” Notwithstanding its sudden lack of a creative director, Dior intends to go ahead with its fashion show this Friday, 4th of March 2011. A spokesperson for John Galliano‘s namesake fashion brand, which is financially backed by Dior, says that Galliano‘s show on Sunday (6th March 2011) will go ahead.
A video surfaced yesterday in which a very drunk Galliano says, “I love Hitler,” and talks about all the people, “your mothers, your forefathers,” who should be “gassed.”
At the Oscars, Natalie Portman — who recently became the face of Miss Dior Chérie perfume, did notwear a Dior dress but a Rodarte one. Portman released a statement last night that read: “I am deeply shocked and disgusted by the video of John Galliano’s comments that surfaced today. In light of this video, and as an individual who is proud to be Jewish, I will not be associated with Mr. Galliano in any way. I hope at the very least, these terrible comments remind us to reflect and act upon combating these still-existing prejudices that are the opposite of all that is beautiful.”
As for his ongoing legal fight, Galliano yesterday went to police headquarters in the neighborhood where he is alleged to have screamed racial and anti-Semitic epithets during three separate incidents. He arrived around 2 p.m., and waded through a crowd of photographers and reporters accompanied by his lawyer. Police had previously announced that Galliano was to be interviewed face-to-face with two of his accusers, Géraldine Bloch and Philippe Virgitti. The designer left the station around 7 p.m. He made no statements to the press, but his lawyer did say that Galliano “never made an anti-Semitic remark in more than ten years at Dior.”
Christian Dior designer John Galliano has filed a defamation lawsuit against the Parisian couple who accused him of anti-Semitic and racist slurs, says Mr. Galliano’s lawyer, Stephane Zerbib. Dior’s enfant terrible is fighting to save his reputation – and possibly his job. He was suspended yesterday from Dior pending the results of a police investigation into a bar brawl at Paris’ trendy La Perle watering hole on Thursday night.
Dior, in an effort to defend its own image, said it enacted its zero-tolerance policy towards racism and anti-Semitism.
Galliano’s alleged comments have rocked the fashion world.It has become the TALK of Milan Fashion Week. Dolce & Gabbana designer Stefano Gabbana Twitted, “I’m so sorry for John Galliano!!” Others were less empathetic with the British designer.
John Galliano, who had consumed alcohol, was questioned for alleged violent behavior and making alleged anti-Semitic remarks to two people during an argument, an official said. Mr. Galliano was released after the questioning; the names of the two people weren’t disclosed. French newspaper “Le Figaro” reported today that Mr. Galliano provided three written statements from witnesses who denied that the designer made any anti-Semitic insults.
Dior’s fashion show is scheduled for Friday. It is unclear whether Mr. Galliano will take his catwalk bow. Yesterday, Mr. Zerbib said the designer would be on the catwalk “like always.”