Anna Wintour’s Controversial Support for John Galliano

Early last month, Anna Wintour, the global editorial director of Vogue and a key Metropolitan Museum of Art trustee, engaged in a significant discussion with Julie Menin. Menin is the daughter of a Holocaust survivor and the first Jewish speaker of the New York City Council. Wintour attempted to convince Menin that honoring fashion designer John Galliano with a solo exhibition at the Met’s Costume Institute was a worthwhile idea.

During their 30-minute video call, Wintour described Galliano as a creative genius, according to Menin. She suggested Galliano had shown regret for his antisemitic remarks, which included exclaiming, ‘I love Hitler!’ and taunting bar patrons by saying their ancestors would be ‘gassed.’

Wintour, known for her dominance in the fashion world and her leading role in the Met gala, tried to dismiss concerns voiced by Menin and other influential New Yorkers. She proposed a private meeting between Galliano and Menin and appeared confident the exhibition would succeed.

However, on Monday, this confidence faltered as the Met abruptly canceled the planned show. The cancellation of the museum’s most anticipated event, which attracts celebrities from entertainment, art, and industry and generates substantial revenue, was a significant setback for the 76-year-old Wintour, who has consistently supported Galliano and is renowned for her strong judgment in art and fashion.

Wintour’s attempt to elevate Galliano by granting him the Costume Institute’s highest honor, achieved by only two other living fashion designers with solo exhibitions, sparked intense reactions from New York’s elite during their typically quiet August vacations.