Christian Dior Couture announced on Tuesday it had begun dismissal proceedings against John Galliano, because of his “especially heinous” behavior and the remarks made by its artistic director that were captured on a cell phone camera. Following accusations of anti-Semitic remarks the House of Dior immediately suspended its relationship with him, pending the results of the investigation.
Today French prosecutors confirmed that John Galliano has been ordered to stand trial on charges related to anti-Semitic remarks he’s alleged to have made at a Paris restaurant last week, even as the 50-year-old designer spoke out for the first time about recent events with the following statement:
“I completely deny the claims made against me and have fully co-operated with the Police investigation.
A number of independent witnesses have given evidence and have told the Police that I was subjected to verbal harassment and an unprovoked assault when an individual tried to hit me with a chair having taken violent exception to my look and my clothing. For these reasons I have commenced proceedings for defamation and the threats made against me.
However, I fully accept that the accusations made against me have greatly shocked and upset people.
I must take responsibility for the circumstances in which I found myself and for allowing myself to be seen to be behaving in the worst possible light. I only have myself to blame and I know that I must face up to my own failures and that I must work hard to gain people’s understanding and compassion. To start this process I am seeking help and all I can hope for in time is to address the personal failure which led to these circumstances and try and earn people’s forgiveness.
I have fought my entire life against prejudice, intolerance and discrimination having been subjected to it myself. In all my work my inspiration has been to unite people of every race, creed, religion and sexuality by celebrating their cultural and ethnic diversity through fashion. That remains my guiding light.
Anti-Semitism and racism have no part in our society. I unreservedly apologise for my behaviour in causing any offence.”
Below is the video originally posted in the British tabloid The Sun: