Dior sans Galliano.

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As I have recently delved into the beginning of the fashion empire known as Dior in a previous post an ode to Jackie Kennedy style, I would like to update you on a few of the recent happenings involving Christian Dior's label. 


John Galliano, a British fashion designer, was the head honcho behind the Dior label since 1997 up until two days ago. On Feb. 25, Dior announced that it had suspended Galliano due to his arrest in Paris for allegedly making anti-semitic remarks. On that same day, the website Citizenside received a video dating back to December of a drunken Galliano throwing anti-semitic insults at a group of Italian women--who were not Jewish. "The Sun," a British tabloid, posted the video on their website. On Mar. 1, the fashion house fired Galliano. 


Natalie Portman, a Jewish actress who has an endorsement contract with Dior for its Miss Dior Cherie fragrance, condemned the designer for his remarks. In a statement Portman said: "I am deeply shocked and disgusted by the video of John Galliano's comments that surfaced today. In light of this video, and as an individual who is proud to be Jewish, I will not be associated with Mr. Galliano in any way. I hope at the very least, these terrible comments remind us to reflect and act upon combating these still-existing prejudices that are the opposite of all that is beautiful."


However, Patricia Field, costume designer and stylist for "Sex and the City," disagreed with Portman. Fields defended Galliano by sending an e-mail to 500 friends, blogs and media, reported wwd.com. According to Fields, Galliano was acting out of character. 


"People in fashion all they do is go and see John Galliano theater every season. That's what he gives them. To me, this was the same except it wasn't in a theater or in a movie," Fields said. "John Galliano lives in theater. It's theater. It's farce. But people in fashion don't recognize the farce in it. All of a sudden they don't know him. But it's ok when it's Mel Brooks' 'The Producers' singing Springtime for Hitler."


If you are foreign to French laws, inciting racial hatred to someone in France is illegal. According to a New York Times' article, "Galliano to Face Trial Over a Anti-Semitic Remarks," Galliano could face up to a six months in prison and a $31,000 fine. His trial is set to take place sometime between April and June. 


In a statement provided through his lawyers, Galliano said: "A number of witnesses have given evidence and have told the police that I was subjected to verbal harassment and an unprovoked assault when an individual tried to hit me with a chair having taken violent exception to my look and my clothing. For these reasons I have commenced proceedings for defamation and the threats made against me... Anti-semitism and racism have no part in our society. I unreservedly apologize for my behavior in causing any offense."


Rumor has it that Galliano is now seeking rehab in Arizona.