Designer John Galliano Arrested in Paris, fired from Dior

[tarsha]

John Galliano to stand trial

Disgraced fashion designer John Galliano, will face trial over an incident at a Paris café during which he allegedly hurled anti-Semitic and racist abuse at Géraldine Bloch, 35, and her companion Philippe Virgiti, 41.

The Paris Prosecutors Office has issued a statement saying it has decided to put John Galliano on trial following a police investigation. The proceedings could take place in the second quarter of this year, and Galliano could face up to six months in prison, and up to €22,500 in fines, if convicted.

Earlier today, Galliano, who was fired from his role as creative director of Christian Dior over the allegations, issued a personal statement completely denying the claims made against him, renouncing anti-Semitism and racism, and apologising unreservedly for any offence his behaviour has caused.
It is believed Galliano has now fled France to attend a rehabilitation facility, most likely The Meadows in Arizona where close friend Kate Moss, Elton John and Donatella Versace have all been treated before for addiction.
Christian Dior intend to go ahead with their autumn/winter 2011 show this Friday at Paris Fashion Week, but whether Galliano will show his eponymous line on Sunday is unconfirmed.

telegraph.co.uk

 

[Lapin de Lune]

If everyone i knew who had made a racist statement towards another whilst inebriated faced 6 months imprisonment and a whopping fine, the world might possibly implode.

I guess this is an example of fames downside. Random folks throw this kind of verbal abuse around like confetti every day of their lives and never have to suffer the consequences (mores the pity, eh).

 

[MulletProof]

Disrespect to other members as well as personal attacks are not tolerated here. Keep it civil, please. Further attacks and off-topic commentary will continue to be removed and may result in suspension of accounts and removal of this thread. Thank you.

 

[FASHIONLOVA]

Doesn't matter if they sell the video that is their choice and, if they can legally do so, then good luck to them. I would be quite happy to be able to profit from a situation where I was verbally abused.

if they were abused they wouldn t have been laughing like they did and asking even more question

 

[thedanae]

Front page on tFS today: Galliano Apologizes, Will Go to Trial, Fashion Elite Rush to His Defense

 

[FASHIONLOVA]

aren't u all blowing this waaaaay out of proportions?
he may hate, that is his right. if he think Hitler is lovable, that is his right. and my grandfather was killed by the Germans, so i think i can talk about this with some perspective. John didn't kill anyone, he acted like an a$$, but he is not a politician and this should not affect on his career. if he refused to work with someone who is a Jew that would be a different thing. at the end of a day, he only hurt himself. i don't give a rat's **** for being politically correct, i just think less of him. why? cos he needs a good history lesson.

p.s. before u judge me, look at how many Serbs were killed by the Nazi. and i still think his words are pure crap.

i totally agree. there are tons of people who actually,really think what he said and probably don t say it out loud. are they better because they don t say it to people they meet on the street?
do u guys really think in this planet everybody hates hitler (even though they should)??
and just a question, whatever happened to freedom of speech???

ps i don t agree with what he said; but again, he was completely drunk!

 

[FASHIONLOVA]

at this point this matters a lot more than the petty racism of in the drunk mind of john galliano (this guy is so inconsequential at this point that his obituary would read the same if it is written today or twenty years from now).

and as a person who has endured racial (but verbal) attacks in several different countries and in many different contexts (while walking, while driving, while in a classroom), i cannot summon one ounce of sympathy for the offended jews because i know what verbally assaulted them in that video could harm them much less than the racist forces in mass media, in european legal system and western commercial organizations - which are processing the case with such bloodthirst and blatant double standard - can and will the asians and gypsies and is much less of a reality than the latter.

john galliano is finished, over, done, goner, no more important than a sewer rat henceforth. i am no more apprehensive of this guy than the people who have actually attacked me in my life: teenagers, drunks, bums, or idiots. i wave them off and cannot even get agitated enough to hate them. those who want to work me up to hate these insignificant lowlives - those people i hold in greatest suspicion, particularly when they demand me to feel their pain while they themselves show utter callousness to the racist attacks against other races and when they invest such resources and energies to manipulate me and disguise their double standard

there is no race war between the jews and john galliano. there is one between asians and jews now

well everybody is stuck on the anti semitic comment rather than that and the asian comment!!

at some point in life even though it was horrible, people have to move on or at least try to

 

[FASHIONLOVA]

If everyone i knew who had made a racist statement towards another whilst inebriated faced 6 months imprisonment and a whopping fine, the world might possibly implode.

I guess this is an example of fames downside. Random folks throw this kind of verbal abuse around like confetti every day of their lives and never have to suffer the consequences (mores the pity, eh).

that's what i said few pages back. if it were you or me saying it NOBODY would go to the police but because he happened to be famous they did so.
it's disgusting.

if he were to be a random drunk man blabbing nobody would be facing trial now.

 

[tarsha]

The Person Who Sold the Video of Galliano Saying He Loves Hitler Is ‘Very Happy’ With Its Profits

As John Galliano's biggest supporters question the validity of that video, which depicted him saying he loves Hitler among other appalling things, some information about its origins are coming out, though nothing terribly revelatory. The video, which seemingly clinched Dior's decision to fire Galliano, was sold to newspaper The Sun by CitizenSide, which brokers such paparazzi footage, for an undisclosed sum. The company's founder, Philippe Checinski, told a radio station in France that "a contributor" sent him the video. Not identifying who made the video, Checinski added, "As soon as we received it we knew it was a big deal."

He tried to sell the video, filmed at French café La Perle in December of last year, to French media outlets earlier, but no one bit. Checinski thinks they might not have wanted to spend the money on it; were afraid of upsetting Dior, a big advertiser; and didn't want to violate French privacy laws. When Galliano was arrested last week, Checinski knew the timing was right to revisit the sale. The person who gave the video to Checinski will receive 65 percent of all sales in France and 50 percent of international sales. Checinski cannot say how much he or she is making, only that, "I can tell you that the contributor is very happy."

nymag.com

 

[Squizree]

What does that matter? Does it change the fact that what he said is racist? I do not understand this thought process.

Just because the reaction to to certain type of racist insults is not so strong, there shouldn't be condemnation of racism in general? I've been reading this type comments for too long in this thread it simply does not make any sense.

Yes it does make sense. There are countless groups Hitler discriminated and targeted, including Jews. But I doubt a racial remark against any of them would have got Galliano fired and checked into rehab. I'm not saying it's "less racist", I'm saying there is a biased tendency to punish those who say anti-Semitic remarks more than those who say any other racially offensive remarks. It's all still racism and none of it is right, but what's the point when the size of the punishment depends on the race involved? Isn't THAT even more racist?

 

[KKnardi]

^of course. people make money of other people's scandals... though 65 per cent off all sales in france and 50 of all international is quite much I must say...

 

[Lapin de Lune]

that's what i said few pages back. if it were you or me saying it NOBODY would go to the police but because he happened to be famous they did so.
it's disgusting.

if he were to be a random drunk man blabbing nobody would be facing trial now.

An ex partner of mine is Jewish, and there were many occasions when we were out socializing (especially in drinking establishments!) in which he was subjected to similar verbal abuse. This is all too common, sadly, and regardless how the Galliano issue pan out, the story will at least serve some purpose: that this kind of thing is never ok.

I'm currently reading about it over at the Sartorialist's blog. Interesting how the commentary is unfolding there...

 

[Les_Sucettes]

Yes it does make sense. There are countless groups Hitler discriminated and targeted, including Jews. But I doubt a racial remark against any of them would have got Galliano fired and checked into rehab. I'm not saying it's "less racist", I'm saying there is a biased tendency to punish those who say anti-Semitic remarks more than those who say any other racially offensive remarks. It's all still racism and none of it is right, but what's the point when the size of the punishment depends on the race involved? Isn't THAT even more racist?

And ? We should aim at all racist remarks being treated as anti-semitism not the other way around. It's totally non-sensical expecting anti-semites to be tolerated because some people perceive there is not such a visceral reaction against other types of racism.
Wrong is going soft on comments directed to other races, not going strong on anti-semitism...

 

[dasydz]

Those arguing that there's some kind of bias going on because this is a case of anti-semitism (offensive speech targeting a certain "protected" group as opposed to others) are either being disingenuous or seriously lack perspective. What makes what he said so egregious isn't so much that it's anti-*semitic*… but the absolute *extremity* of it, the depth of the horror of it. The extraordinary degree of the offensiveness of those words.

What Galliano said wasn't just run-of-the-mill, rude, un-PC, potentially offensive speech which, one could argue, does not merit firing. Examples: drunkenly calling someone by an obviously Jewish name not their own (like Charlie Sheen to his boss), a photo editorial with models together with men in Orthodox Jewish outfits (beards, hats, etc.) & playing with potentially offensive stereotypes, or even more offensive speech, like drunkenly saying to someone they should "go back to Israel" or insulting someone over their "big Jewish nose."

No. To argue that there's some kind of bias in the outrage over Galliano's speech you would have to come up with *comparable* examples (targeting other groups), and argue that he would not be fired for that speech. People, this is what Galliano, the famous & public face of a venerable fashion house, loudly expressed in a public venue: love for one of the most monstrous genocidal figures in history, and his wish that a person, all their family, parents grandparents & ancestors, and everyone like them would have been exterminated in the gas ovens of a Dachau.

To reach that level of horror (in speech targeting other groups), you would have to say something like: "you're ugly and subhuman, you, your family, and all of your ancestors deserve no better than to be slaves, I wish slavery was never abolished, so you, like your ape great-great-grand-mama, could be whipped in a plantation like the animal you are."

*That's* the level of speech we're talking about here. To speak in abstract generalities (he was just offensive, or un-PC, or "anti-semitic" as opposed to anti-Asian etc) obscures the true horror of his words. We're not talking about un-PC fashion editorials or casually using racial slurs. This is speech that is clearly beyond the pale, and his bosses clearly have the right to fire him for it-- a public figure who is responsible for representing a venerable company.

Re criminal charges, being arrested-- here I disagree. I'm a strong believer in the principle of free speech, all speech, even speech I find abhorrent, and don't believe it should be criminalized by any government. Being fired & publicly disgraced is punishment enough.

 

[Squizree]

^ But that's what I mean! The modern treatment and punishment of racists is biased, depending on the race being offended. I'm not saying anti-Semites should be tolerated, I'm saying the rest should all also be equally non-tolerated. But they're not, so there's obviously something anti-Semitism that gets people boiling more than any other form of racism.

 

[angel222]

I had posted a comment earlier which got deleted because there wasn't enough context and treated as spam. The guy who sold the video to Sun had described that beyond the offensive Jewish remarks that he also sold the video because he was defending Italian women. His rationale was because the girls were Italian they were being discriminated against by Galliano because he was very ugly towards them. This is what I read as I was the person who first posted the video from the Sun but asked the moderators to delete it because it made me feel ugly to show this to other people.

Here is the direct quote:

"We were stunned by what Galliano was saying, but then he started making vile anti-Semitic comments. His words were disgusting. He made it clear the Italian girls weren't welcome and should go home. This was pure racism."

http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/news/3436757/Film-of-John-Gallianos-racist-rant-in-bar.html

This has to be one of the most divisive threads on TFS. The last time so many people was on a thread here was when Ruslana and Daul killed themselves violently; it's what I recall. Peace and everyone be safe.

 

[Les_Sucettes]

^ But that's what I mean! The modern treatment and punishment of racists is biased, depending on the race being offended. I'm not saying anti-Semites should be tolerated, I'm saying the rest should all also be equally non-tolerated. But they're not, so there's obviously something anti-Semitism that gets people boiling more than any other form of racism.

Well but French law makes no such distinction. That's actually the best that can be done.

There are a lot of reasons why anti-semitism in some countries may a hit totally wrong note and why anti-semitic abuse causes such revulsion. Anyone that Knows about France's past can understand . You can help your History and your culture. Even a lot of racially related laws are simply a product of of the history, sociology and culture of that particular country. Germany for example has incredibly strict laws regarding nazi iconography, imagery that would not be tolerated in Germany and considered extremely offensive would not cause a ripple in England. Some european countries have laws that strictly forbid the formation of far right parties but gladly have communist parties sitting in government. The UK is extremely sensitive to the any form of insult directed to muslims, and that awareness seems to have passed by to a lot of other countries. We are not machines, what we find to be more or less morally wrong it's dependent on a lot of factors.
But in this case actually a law exists that in theory does not discriminate, regardless of the way anti-semitism affects french sensibilities, there is absolutely no proof that anti-semitism now days is punished harsher in court than any other kind of racial abuse.

 

[Veronika C]

As a woman in her thirties, I am shocked and appalled that so many people want to defend Galliano or say it isn't a big deal. Just b/c someone is famous, or talented does not give them a pass.

I don't know how many people France has charged and punished due to this law, but that shouldn't matter. Mr Galliano broke the law, and should be punished based on the law and the evidence, no matter who he is or is not.


He also should have been fired, even if there is a law against what he did or not. This type of behavior in society should not be tolerated in any way shape or form!

It is a shame that some people, and I am talking about those who think this is a trivial matter--ie. no big deal, do not see the horror, evil and abominations this type of behavior has already brought upon humanity.

Today it is a word, tomorrow it is an article, an interview, then it is a speech, a movement, and a lifestyle, until it becomes a tidal wave that washes over the earth. Dramatic? Perhaps, but given the history of humanity, I think it is accurate.

I applaud France, the police and the house of Dior for taking these steps. I too, like other members hope that all discrimination based on race, gender, sexual orientation, religion etc. is stamped out. I also hope we as a society can begin to judge people on their actions, thoughts, and ethics instead of things they cannot control.

I am sorry if this angers anyone. But I believe that humanity has not risen even close to being noble as it could be. In fact, I sometimes think that we (as a society) are going in the other direction.

 

[ultramarine]

^ But that's what I mean! The modern treatment and punishment of racists is biased, depending on the race being offended. I'm not saying anti-Semites should be tolerated, I'm saying the rest should all also be equally non-tolerated. But they're not, so there's obviously something anti-Semitism that gets people boiling more than any other form of racism.

You hit the nail in the head there .. Im part native american .. and when have you seen native americans uproar over some comment or something like that? Not here that I know .. not even the US!

And in the Americas, there were many more killed than other minorities on other time periods.

Now, I think we are veerying on off-topicness here. So I recommend to stick to the keywords which I posted a couple of pages ago:

EVERY POST IN HERE SHOULD MENTION: GALLIANO + FIRED + DIOR. If you do not mention it, it will be very likely deleted!

Thank you!

 

[m.j.]

As a woman in her thirties, I am shocked and appalled that so many people want to defend Galliano or say it isn't a big deal. Just b/c someone is famous, or talented does not give them a pass.

well if Galliano wasn't famous he would not get in this media circus nor would he get fired from Dior or he would be discussed here and everywhere else. so no one, and i mean NO ONE is giving him a free pass. for all i can see, people are butchering him. now, find me a person who never said something shameful or verbally attacked some group of people and i will eat my foot. only on this forum, which is very well organized, where people have to stick to the rules, we attack. so once again, if John wants to adore Hitler, i don't care. what i want to see is his art. and his art did not insult anyone.
at first this was all amusing to me, but now this is just awful. why are we better than him? we judge him, without knowing him, we have no idea if he is sick, if he was telling an ugly joke, we only have like a minute of the infamous video. and worst of all, we judge each other.