John Galliano apologizes, will face trial over alleged anti-Semitic remarks
John Galliano has been ordered to stand trial on charges related to anti-Semitic remarks he's alleged to have made at a Paris restaurant last week, French prosecutors said Wednesday, even as the 50-year-old designer spoke out for the first time about recent events.
Galliano strongly denied the claims made against him, but said in a statement obtained by All the Rage that "I must take responsibility for the circumstances in which I found myself and for allowing myself to be seen to be behaving in the worst possible light." (Read the full statement here.)
Suspended by fashion house Dior in the wake of a Thursday altercation in which anti-Semitic and anti-Asian remarks and threats of violence were alleged, Galliano was fired Tuesday after a 2010 video surfaced Monday in which the designer was saying, among other things, "I love Hitler."
Dior fragrance spokesmodel Natalie Portman, who won a best actress Oscar on Sunday, said Monday that "as an individual who is proud to be Jewish, I will not be associated with Mr. Galliano in any way."
On Wednesday the designer referred to "seeking help" and said "all I can hope for in time is to address the personal failure which led to these circumstances and try and earn people's forgiveness." Unnamed friends told the New York Times that Galliano had been persuaded to go to rehab. At Fashion Week, a spokesperson for the John Galliano clothing line declined to comment.
Galliano, who is British, was in Paris for Fashion Week. If convicted -- anti-Semitic speech is a crime in France -- he could face up to six months in prison and more than $30,000 in fines.
Dior's Paris runway show is still set for Friday; Galliano's line may or may not be seen Sunday.
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-- Christie D'Zurilla
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
Photo: John Galliano poses at the end of his Dior Haute Couture runway show during Paris Fashion Week in January 2010. Credit: Jacques Brinon / Associated Press
Since when does someone go to trial over nasty remarks?
Posted by: zygion | Mar 02, 2011 at 01:35 PM
If he was in the U.S. would he really be standing trail for this? What ever happened to free speech? People can like whoever they want -- it doesn't make them sane or a nice person but seriously it's not like he hit anyone.
Posted by: Sara | Mar 02, 2011 at 01:49 PM
I realize hate speech is treated differently in Europe and for good reason, but in the us I just find it crazy there so much publicity on these comments when nothing is said about hate speech that takes place every day towards other races!
Posted by: Sara | Mar 02, 2011 at 01:53 PM
You are a moron
Posted by: Adam | Mar 02, 2011 at 01:55 PM
Never mind his remarks,I think he should stand trial for his appearence!!
Posted by: britboy | Mar 02, 2011 at 02:23 PM
How about just good old "ostracism".
Being shunned by your community is more painful than any financial judgement.
Posted by: Mary | Mar 02, 2011 at 02:42 PM
Geez, free speech much? This is ridiculous.
Posted by: Maggie | Mar 02, 2011 at 02:53 PM
***********"as an individual who is proud to be Jewish, I will...."*******
-Natalie Portman
I just hope she didn't use this line when supporting Polanski's pedophilia.
Posted by: Phillip | Mar 02, 2011 at 04:28 PM
Who cares a fig about Natalie Portman and her Jewish identity?
She wishes she had an ounce of the talent and the vision of a John Galliano.
He was drunk and tired and stressed out from over working during Paris fashion week. So he had a bipolar drunken aggressive delusional moment, so what! No one was injured, no one was threatened.
Natalie Portman representing a Dior fragrance should be far more incriminating and embarrassing for Dior.
Portman is a silly neurotic immature little girl, whose acting shows the dark and rancid seams of someone who tries too hard in practicing one's craft.
She needs to take a look at herself as she enters into her next big role as the desperate jewish housewife playing second fiddle to her boyfriend's bi-sexual diva talent.
Posted by: Pwal Adamu | Mar 02, 2011 at 04:30 PM
He looks like a fabulous mess like all other flambuoyant designers do...
Posted by: Dancingbear | Mar 02, 2011 at 04:57 PM
He will probably have a breakdown if his collection is not shown. Once it sinks in that he does not work for Dior he will have a breakdown. When he realizes his tickets to fashion week are revoked--he made Idiotic statements / destroyed his lifestyle--A Naomi above the law lifestyle.
Posted by: Laura Frick | Mar 02, 2011 at 07:20 PM
I have forgiven those that have done the same thing to me, but it took a lot of soul searching, and I too catch myself of not being mindful of my words, but my close friends forgive me when I make mistakes like that, hopefully he can redeem himself by making a contribution to some group that needs support from people that do not regret things they say , thats it.
Posted by: Rick | Mar 03, 2011 at 09:59 AM
But 99% of people in the Middle East and 75% of Europeans hold the same outrageous views. Only in the USA is freedom of speech protected. Everywhere else if the government doesn't like what you say it will either fine you (think Bridget Bardot in France being fined for saying Islam is a primitive religion that condones animal sacrifice) or put you in jail. In England it's against the law to say homosexuality is unnatural and a symptom something went wrong. In the USA free speech will no longer be protected once the "living constitution" crowd is in the majority on the SC.
Posted by: Progressive Ed | Mar 03, 2011 at 10:19 AM
Dont be sorry for the things you believe.
Posted by: Arik | Mar 04, 2011 at 08:32 AM