Why did the Met cancel the John Galliano retrospective?

The Metropolitan Museum of Art canceled its planned 2027 John Galliano retrospective after backlash documented in a New York Times story, which drew objections from city officials, a major donor, and Jewish leaders. The Times also reported that Galliano made antisemitic remarks in 2019, years after his 2011 hate crime conviction in a French court.

Who objected to the Galliano exhibition?

Objections came from New York City Council speaker Julie Menin, who called the show a serious mistake; donor Arne Glimcher, who told the museum he was reconsidering earmarking artworks in his collection for the Met in his will; and Jewish leaders including Rabbi David Ingber, founding rabbi of Romemu and senior director of Jewish life and the Bronfman Center at 92NY.

What did Anna Wintour say about the cancellation?

In the Met's announcement, Wintour called Galliano's decision courageous and said she believed it was the right one, adding that both he and the museum had her full support. Her statement ran 44 words. Galliano's, which framed the cancellation as his own decision, ran 333.

Has John Galliano made antisemitic remarks since 2011?

The New York Times reported that Galliano made antisemitic remarks in 2019, years after he was convicted of a hate crime in a French court and said he had atoned and changed his behavior. Galliano denied this through a spokesperson, but three sources confirmed the account to the Times.

Does the Costume Institute still need the Met Gala?

Possibly not for much longer. The Costume Institute has saved enough money that, by as soon as 2028, it may no longer need the funds the Met Gala generates, according to New York Times reporting. The gala has raised hundreds of millions of dollars for the department since Anna Wintour began planning it in 1995.

🎙️New on the Back Row podcast: Kate Casey, of Reality Life with Kate Casey, joined me to rewatch The September Issue, in honor of, well, September. Check out the free episode on YouTube, Spotify, and Apple Podcasts. Premium subscribers can access the bonus episode, about what the new Anna Wintour doc might cover, in Apple Podcasts and Spotify.

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Loose Threads

Hours after the Met announced the cancellation of the John Galliano retrospective, Anna Wintour was photographed at the US Open.
Ib Kamara is leaving Off-White, after being named creative director in 2022. Kamara said on Instagram he and the brand “mutually decided to part ways.”
If you’re doing back-to-school shopping, Quince has some adorable and affordable options, like this long-sleeved skater dress and these sweats (my kids constantly wear out their sweats). If you’re shopping for yourself, NYT’s Wirecutter has called this cashmere sweater “an outstanding value.” While pricier, I also like this oversized one.
Partner message: J. Crew sent me a Tiny Rollneck sweater and it’s really super-soft. If you want to be very millennial about it and wear it with a high-waisted jean (raises hand), I enjoy these.
Nicole Kidman went to a Practical Magic 2 premiere wearing the first look by Pieter Mulier for Versace, though his first full collection won’t walk until February. Thoughts?

Photo: Gilbert Flores/Variety via Getty Images

Ahead, today’s big story…

The Met Finally Told Anna Wintour No

Anna Wintour has a long history of failing to read rooms. She bribed the Bezoses to pay for the 2026 Met Gala with a couple of Vogue puff pieces to public dismay. In 2023, she used the Met Gala to honor Karl Lagerfeld, a man who mocked fat women and sexual assault victims, leading to activists protesting the event. In 2008, she published a cover of Gisele Bündchen and LeBron James that, her team warned, would be viewed as a racial trope. But Anna's ability to will into existence a 2027 John Galliano retrospective at the Met — a decision guaranteed to be met with backlash — stood to be the greatest room-reading failure of her long career.

At times, her determination led to iconic cultural moments, like Naomi Campbell becoming the first Black woman to appear on the cover of the September issue of American Vogue in 1989. Yet while Anna's power has grown to a point where she seldom doesn't get her way, a major cultural institution is finally telling her…

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The Met Finally Told Anna Wintour No

Loose Threads

The Met Finally Told Anna Wintour No

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