Last week I posted about the Met Gala 2027 and Anna Wintour’s two major challenges in planning for the event next May: securing a sponsor and also the subject of the Costume Institute’s next exhibit, John Galliano. Remember, the Met Gala is a fundraising event in support of the Costume Institute – the exhibit is supposed to be the main character, even though the party often overshadows the purpose.

Big news today – John Galliano has withdrawn from the exhibit with a statement posted this morning on Instagram about his decision.

This follows weeks of backlash from the moment it was announced that his work – and controversies – would be featured at the museum. That was exactly a month ago, on July 31, which is kinda early for the Costume Institute to be announcing their exhibit but they were likely aware that there’d be some pushback and thought they could use the added time to smooth over the situation, a major miscalculation.

But remember, it’s been widely reported that Anna and Andrew Bolton, the chief Curator of the Costume Institute, were initially hoping to showcase Galliano in 2024 and backed off when board members objected. This suggests that a lot of the work that goes into mounting an exhibit would have already been done because it’s been in progress for years now. It also suggests, however, that they’ve been operating within an insulated community that, clearly, was incapable of reading the room. Just because certain fashion girls and boys have embraced Galliano again – and the success of Maison Margiela under his tenure would support that – doesn’t necessarily mean that he should be given a year-long space for his face in a wing at the museum.

Obviously they thought any objections would be manageable but they underestimated where the objections would be coming from. This is not just an uproar on Twitter and TikTok, longtime museum patrons, donors, and other influential figures who have long supported the museum have raised their concerns. Which, again, and most baffling, Anna, Andrew, and their committee don’t seem to have anticipated.

So now it’s a mess. They’re scrambling to replace the exhibit with just nine months to go. According to the New York Times there’s a meeting that is scheduled for this afternoon to figure out a way to move forward. And remember, all this is happening after the stank that the Bezos left on the Met Gala a few months ago.

John Galliano stepping away from the exhibit might not solve much where Anna’s concerned. Never mind the task of figuring out the new exhibit, this could jeopardise her professional future because she may have lost the confidence of key stakeholders. Last week she was trying to save the exhibit at the Met Gala. Right now she might be trying to save her career and legacy.

What else happened today…

I know you’ve probably read a lot about Dolly Parton over the last few days but there’s one more that I strongly encourage – Kathleen’s piece about Dolly and not having kids and the hope of future acceptance. Kathleen has written many, many bangers over the years, and this one is a new masterpiece. (Refinery 29)

Anna Wintour was trying to make a whole exhibit and party for John Galliano and that’s now been scrapped. Gwyneth Paltrow wanted to host a dinner for Sam Altman and Kayleigh Donaldson writes today that that too might not be happening. (Pajiba)

Selena Gomez wears the colour of the year in Venice. Brown will continue to be huge through the fall and winter which brings up the whole Pantone thing – way off base in 2026 with “Cloud Dancer”, LOL. (Go Fug Yourself)

Sarah Ferguson has been really, really quiet since… well… you know. Now she’s apparently back in the UK and, by most people’s standards, is living large. (Celebitchy)

Jennifer Garner really wanted to be in The West Wing (the television series), and she got Alias instead. (Entertainment Weekly)

Photo credits:  David Fisher/Shutterstock

Share this post