As I am most likely the only fashion blogger in the blogosphere that holds a degree in Jewish Studies, {"what exactly are you planning on doing with that degree?"}, it seems only natural that I lend a word on this horrifying John Galliano mess.
As you all know, Mr. Galliano was arrested in Paris for making anti-Jewish remarks in a bar, and shortly after his arrest The Sun obtained a video recording of Galliano on a similar tirade from late last year. There is no excuse for this behavior, and I applaud France for having a no-tolerance policy on such hateful actions. From the moment I watched the documentary Catwalk for the first time, I fell in love with Galliano and his uniquely theatrical designs and runway shows. The man is an inspirational designer with an obvious flair for the dramatic. Which leads me to my point, that it is overwhelmingly evident that Galliano's anti-Jewish remarks were primarily the drunken babbles of a sad and attention hungry man. For Galliano to be a Hitler sympathizer would be the most hypocritical, self-damning action the man could make. He is an openly gay man, {named one of Britain's most influential gay people}, who, because of this, would have been a direct target in Hitler's Final Solution. This fact alone reveals that Galliano's remarks about loving Hitler were only for his love of shock-factor. I cannot attest to the validity of his anti-Jewish remarks, but would hope that he would not harbor such hateful feelings when he is employed in an industry that was revived in the post WWII era by Jews, {i.e. Ralph Lauren, Anne Klein, Calvin Klein, Diane von Furstenberg, Donna Karan, Kenneth Cole and Michael Kors}.
From the video of his earliest outburst it is evident that Galliano was entirely intoxicated, if not deranged, and it is clear that he has a series of serious problems that desperately need to be addressed. I admire the Dior fashion house for realizing that talent and genius are sullied by hatred, and I hope that this industry that I love so much will continue to work to create beauty and eliminate intolerance.
Truly yours,
Rachel
