Superstar designer John Galliano is the latest celebrity to do something completely creepy while under the influence — allegedly, of course. The Dior front man is accused of slinging antisemitic slurs at a British couple while drinking at the La Perle Cafe in Paris late last night. Galliano was arrested and it was discovered that his blood alcohol level was just above the legal limit.
The designer was promptly suspended from his post at Dior, where he has held court since 1996.
While Galliano, 50, denies the allegations, making antisemitic remarks in France is a crime punishable by up to six months in jail.
Dior CEO Sidney Toledano told The Guardian, “Dior affirms with the utmost conviction its policy of zero tolerance towards a
ny antisemitic or racist words or behaviour. Pending the results of the inquiry Christian Dior has suspended John Galliano from his responsibilities.”
LVMH, Dior’s parent company, is no stranger to drama surrounding antisemitism. For years, Louis Vuitton has dodged rumors that they placed ads in French newspapers that read “Jews Need Not Apply.” A 1974 Anti Defamation League investigation found the allegations to be untrue.
Dior is currently scheduled to present their Fall, 2011 show in Paris on March 4.
As of now, at least, it seems the show will go on.
“We had a table at La Perle and John Galliano sat next to us,” our eyewitness told us. “He spoke to a couple at a nearby table to say ‘Cheers’ and they insulted him. An argument started and the police came, so Galliano’s bodyguard suggested that they should go to the police station to sort it out. He wasn’t ‘busted’ aggressively by police, it was very quiet and peaceful. I definitely didn’t hear him say anything anti-Semitic, or against any religion, it was all very calm.”
ah Dior: suspended? One wonders why this was actually swiftly done without even a gesture of support.