Watch Dior Designer John Galliano Say "I Love Hitler."
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Whatever happened to prompt Dior designer John Galliano‘s arrest Thursday night in Paris for allegedly launching into a racist, anti-Semitic assault against a couple in a cafe, it appears that it was not Galliano’s first such incident. In fact, in a separate outburst at the same cafe, a very drunk Galliano was captured on video clearly telling two women, “I love Hitler. People like you would be dead. Your mothers, your forefathers, would all be fucking gassed.” [Sun]
The video may or may not be connected to a second police complaint, filed by a woman, alleging Galliano used anti-Semitic slurs. Meanwhile, Galliano is counter-suing his alleged victims, Géraldine Bloch and Philippe Virgitti, for defamation. The three are scheduled to meet at a Paris police headquarters this afternoon. [WWD]
In her statement to police, Bloch, who is not Jewish, alleged that Galliano screamed at her, “Dirty Jew face, you should be dead,” and told her to “shut your mouth, dirty bitch, I can’t stand your dirty whore voice.” As for Virgitti, who is of Asian descent, Bloch says Galliano yelled, “You fucking Asian bastard, I’ll kill you!” He then returned his attention to Bloch. “You’re so ugly I can’t bear looking at you. You’re wearing cheap boots, cheap thigh boots. You’ve got no hair, your eyebrows are ugly, you’re ugly, you’re nothing but a whore.” And for his finale, Bloch — whom witnesses reported initially mistook Galliano for a homeless person, perhaps angering him — says Galliano yelled, “I am the designer John Galliano!” and struck a pose. [NYDN]
And the Oscar fall-out: “Dior ambassador and best actress nominee Natalie Portman donned a violet Rodarte dress rather than a Galliano creation for her stroll down the red carpet. However, Sharon Stone wore a Dior gown but skipped all press interviews on the red carpet.” [WWD]
A designer who has worked with Galliano in the past says he “can’t imagine he would do this to anyone. I’m an observant Jew, and I know from my own experiences with him that there’s no way he hates Jewish people. He’s incredibly gentle.” [The Cut]
Louis Vuitton Moët Hennessy, which suspended the designer immediately following his arrest, has still made no public comment on Galliano’s future at Dior, which is scheduled to present its fall collection on March 4. (John Galliano is also scheduled to show his namesake line on March 6.) Vogue Italia editor-in-chief Franca Sozzani says, “Christian Dior without John Galliano would be a huge pity.” [Telegraph]
A Dior spokesperson: “It’s out of the company’s hands — and with the police — and Galliano will be suspended until it is resolved. I know there have been rumours about a possible announcement today, but it’s not something I can confirm.” [Vogue UK]
- There is a rumor that Naomi Campbell might become a judge on the X Factor. Clearly, whoever started this rumor has never heard Naomi Campbell’s 1995 album, Baby Woman. [Daily Express]
- Stuart Weitzman says that most actresses who attended the Academy Awards last night did so in 6.5″ heels. But Helen Mirren often asks for low heels, and most stars keep a pair of flats to change into between the show and the after-parties. [The Cut]
- For the Vanity Fair party last night, Natalie Portman changed into a $49.95 recycled polyester dress from H&M‘s “eco-friendly” line. [NYDN]
- Oscars red carpet tidbit: “‘What’s not to like about this?’ said [Michelle] Williams, who began to twirl around in her gown before stopping short. ‘Whoa! Someone just grabbed my ass.’ She looked up as [Cate] Blanchett passed by with a naughty smile on her face.” Women’s Wear Daily rated these Academy Awards as among the most colorful ever — which they were, if you consider the dresses worn by female attendees, rather than the color of the nominees’ skin. [WWD]
- Alexa Chung swears Anna Wintour is totally nice sometimes. [Vogue UK]
- Not only is 29-year-old Dutch new face Saskia de Brauw on the cover of Carine Roitfeld‘s last issue of Vogue Paris, she’s also on the march issue of Vogue Italia. [Models.com]
- Fashion blind item! “What EIC tried to make nice with a star backstage at Milan Fashion Week? S/he really irked this performer last year with a negative cover story.” Wait, a ladymag ran a negative cover story about a star? In what universe? [Fashionista]
- Roberto Cavalli: “I want to express a new femininity that is already living in the future. My woman for next winter could become the ideal host who accompanies us on a shuttle, voyaging toward new worlds in space.” [Guardian]
- Cathy Horyn on the Milan shows: Marni was better than usual this season, with plenty of 60s-inspired suits and jackets, Aquilano Rimondi took inspiration from the ’60s and Mondrian, Missoni was “pastel upchuck.” [On The Runway]
- Salvatore Ferragamo is planning an IPO in Hong Kong. That’s the same exchange where Prada is planning its IPO. [Vogue UK]
- March 25 is the 100th anniversary of the Triangle Shirtwaist factory fire, which killed 146 people — most of them young, immigrant women garment workers, who earned around $2 a day and worked 14-hour shifts. (Sounds familiar.) The disaster proved a watershed event in U.S. labor history, because the workers’ lives were endangered by the actions of management, such as locking the factory doors during shifts. Tonight, PBS is airing a documentary about the fire, and next month, so will HBO. [WWD]