Is Galliano truly forgiven?
DISGRACED DESIGNER John Galliano is not only coming back into fashion among the globe’s sartorial community — it appears that Jews are also reconsidering their view of him.
Galliano has kept a low profile since his was filmed in September 2011 telling two Jewish women in a Paris cafe: “I love Hitler. People like you would be dead today. Your… forefathers would be f*****g dead, f*****g gassed.”
Galliano was ejected from his job at Christian Dior and subsequently convicted for antisemitic remarks.
Over the past few months, however, Galliano has repeatedly apologised, said he is committed to making amends and met members of the Anti-Defamation League (ADL) to learn more about antisemitism.
ADL director Abraham Foxman said: “We believe that individuals can change their hearts and minds as long as they demonstrate true contrition.”
He said that Galliano has “dedicated a significant amount of time to… learning about the evils of antisemitism and bigotry”. Ephraim Zuroff, director of the Simon Weisenthal Centre in Israel, echoed those remarks, saying: “Let him be reinstated. If he has done his penance and sees things differently; if he honestly feels that way.”
Mr Foxman said that he looked forward to working with Galliano as a “spokesman against antisemitism, intolerance and bigotry”.
Recently, fashion designer Oscar de la Renta offered Galliano a three-week residency at his New York studio, an arrangement that was brokered by Anna Wintour, the editor of US Vogue.