Anna Wintour has spoken out after John Galliano withdrew his planned exhibition at the Metropolitan Museum of Art’s Costume Institute following backlash over his past antisemitic and anti-Asian remarks.

The exhibition, titled John Galliano: Horizons, was announced in July as the Costume Institute’s spring 2027 exhibition. It was expected to feature garments, accessories, sketches, toiles, research books and archival material from the celebrated designer’s career.

However, the decision to honour Galliano faced criticism because of remarks he made in 2010 and 2011, including antisemitic comments and slurs directed at Jewish and Asian people. Galliano was subsequently dismissed as Dior’s creative director, while a French court convicted him of public insults constituting hate crimes in 2011.

Galliano announced on Monday that, after discussions with The Met and those involved, he had decided the exhibition should not take place “at this time”.

“I remain fully accountable for the pain caused by my words in the past,” Galliano said, adding that he remained deeply sorry for the hurt caused to Jewish and Asian communities.

He also said he did not want the controversy surrounding him to put The Met in a difficult position or distract from the Costume Institute’s work.

Wintour, a longtime supporter of Galliano, backed his decision and described his choice to postpone the exhibition as “very courageous and a measure of the man he is”.

She also praised his influence on fashion, describing him as a master of technique and storytelling and highlighting his work at Dior and Maison Margiela.

The Metropolitan Museum of Art is expected to announce details of a new spring Costume Institute exhibition and the 2027 Met Gala at a later date.