Dior suspends 'racist' designer
Source: Agencies |
February 27, 2011, Sunday
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Print Edition
Print Edition
KNOWN for his wildly inventive designs, John Galliano struts out in an outrageous costume at the end of each runway show. That might not happen at Paris Fashion Week - the house of Dior has suspended Galliano as its creative director after he was accused of hurling an anti-Semitic insult during an alcohol-fueled spat at a bar.
The designer vigorously denied wrongdoing on Friday and said the move was "totally disproportionate." The suspension comes just a week before Dior's fall-winter 2011-2012 ready-to-wear show on the catwalks of Paris.
Christian Dior SA said in a statement that the suspension would remain in effect pending an investigation into the altercation on Thursday night at La Perle, a trendy eatery in Paris' Marais district.
Paris prosecutors said the British designer was questioned by police and released after a couple accused him of hurling an anti-Semitic slur at them. A police official said the designer also exchanged slaps with the couple. The prosecutors and police say Galliano's blood alcohol levels were excessive.
Fallout was swift.
Just hours after news of Galliano's brief detention hit French websites, Dior CEO Sidney Toledano announced the suspension, saying: "The House of Dior confirms, with the greatest firmness, its policy of zero tolerance for any anti-Semitic or racist comments."
Galliano's lawyer, Stephane Zerbib, said the Gibraltar-born designer was "totally surprised" by the suspension.
"He never made an anti-Semitic remark in more than 10 years at Dior," Zerbib said. "He was insulted, and he responded to the insults."
Under French law, making anti-Semitic remarks can be punishable by up to six months in prison. Public figures in France have been convicted for anti-Semitic remarks in the past, but are usually given only suspended sentences.
Asked about the allegations, Donatella Versace told Italian reporters before her show in Milan that the Galliano she knows "isn't like that."
"Racism is horrible and I condemn it, but I don't think Galliano was thinking about it," Versace was quoted as saying by the Italian news agency ANSA. "He is a good person, and very serious. He is a great creator who has given a lot and has a lot more to give, but that does not justify any type of racism."
The designer vigorously denied wrongdoing on Friday and said the move was "totally disproportionate." The suspension comes just a week before Dior's fall-winter 2011-2012 ready-to-wear show on the catwalks of Paris.
Christian Dior SA said in a statement that the suspension would remain in effect pending an investigation into the altercation on Thursday night at La Perle, a trendy eatery in Paris' Marais district.
Paris prosecutors said the British designer was questioned by police and released after a couple accused him of hurling an anti-Semitic slur at them. A police official said the designer also exchanged slaps with the couple. The prosecutors and police say Galliano's blood alcohol levels were excessive.
Fallout was swift.
Just hours after news of Galliano's brief detention hit French websites, Dior CEO Sidney Toledano announced the suspension, saying: "The House of Dior confirms, with the greatest firmness, its policy of zero tolerance for any anti-Semitic or racist comments."
Galliano's lawyer, Stephane Zerbib, said the Gibraltar-born designer was "totally surprised" by the suspension.
"He never made an anti-Semitic remark in more than 10 years at Dior," Zerbib said. "He was insulted, and he responded to the insults."
Under French law, making anti-Semitic remarks can be punishable by up to six months in prison. Public figures in France have been convicted for anti-Semitic remarks in the past, but are usually given only suspended sentences.
Asked about the allegations, Donatella Versace told Italian reporters before her show in Milan that the Galliano she knows "isn't like that."
"Racism is horrible and I condemn it, but I don't think Galliano was thinking about it," Versace was quoted as saying by the Italian news agency ANSA. "He is a good person, and very serious. He is a great creator who has given a lot and has a lot more to give, but that does not justify any type of racism."
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