Designer John Galliano Arrested in Paris, fired from Dior

[Les_Sucettes]

Maybe because those that filmed it wanted to make a quick buck, milking the controversy for what it's worth? Maybe they believed the video would've fallen by the wayside had it surfaced some other time? Maybe because they didn't know he was famous at the time of filming? Or maybe because it's quite a common thing - Galliano getting pissed and raving like a nutter - which locally everyone knew about, and so those that filmed it didn't believe it would stir up a hornet's nest? Maybe they filmed it to show it to their friends and have a laugh, because, frankly, it is a ridiculously - almost comically - pathetic rant?

It's true. According to the The Sunday Times today(can't post link they are pay per view now) the video has been around for ages, this people tried selling it when it happened but the press in France was not prepared to take it because they were afraid Dior would drop their advertising pages. Contrary this conspiracy theories apparently Dior was actually shielding the increasing "absent" designer and pretending that everything was still going fine. It's not mentioned if they Knew of the video .
The video surfaced now, because everything was out in the open with the new scandal and it would be impossible for Dior to blacklist everyone. It's never clear in the (long) article if the press presumed Dior would try to defend Galliano, and claim the video was an isolated incident ,or the press was warned of the consequences if they shown the video.

 

[bunburyist]

Wow. That's all I can say. There's a lot of reaching going on both in this thread and in the media and it's both embarrassing and sad.

I can't really speak for TFS (I haven't read this thread in its entirety) but as far as the media and in particular the fashion industry goes I agree. It is a bit embarrassing.


Whatever you think of Galliano as a creative type, he made his position untenable through his actions, it would be a PR disaster and bad business if LVMH were to keep him on the payroll after the video came to light. Sure we don't know the full story, but I think it's safe to say we know enough that there had to be consequences for his actions and Dior firing him isn't an unreasonable consequence (after all, it's a criminal allegation which he's facing, over a particularly sensitive subject).

 

[Les_Sucettes]

I forgot to mention in my last post, that Dior apparently did suspended him right after the altercation, they did not even speak to him or heard his side, apparently they just talked with his driver.

 

[Teratel]

I would love to hear what the models have to say about the whole thing, or are they not allowed to talk about this?

 

[chloehandbags]

Of course he will never be a spokesmen for neo nazi organization,but do you actually think only card owners of far right organizations are dangerous or the only ones that spout racial abuse? Tolerating what is a relatively small racist incident is exactly how you plant the seeds for bigger problems. And not at all because he may became dangerous, accepting what he said as something normal is the REAL danger. You can't be complacent or make excuses, what kind of message is that? That as long as racist abuse can be circumscribed to a few people and the incident is obscure, it can be tolerated? It's never OK.
Regardless, this is not even the case of Galliano, he's a public figure and a representative of a huge fashion house.

Who's suggesting we tolerate it, though?

I haven't noticed anyone saying anything you're talking about?

Giving reasons (and suggesting possible explanations) for a person's behaviour, refusing to judge them (the bible itself says; 'Judge not lest ye be judged.', after all) and suggesting that we should try to find it in our hearts to forgive, is NOT the same thing as tolerating what was said, or accepting it as normal, or being complacent about it, or making excuses for it.

 

[m.j.]

I would love to hear what the models have to say about the whole thing, or are they not allowed to talk about this?

well no one is actually talking.... editors are quiet so its risky for models to say anything...its just too contraversial.... i really want to hear annas opinion, or any other editor of big and influletal fashion magazines

 

[Luca*]

^ pointing out that he's been through some hard times lately (stress, loss of friends, alcoholism, etc), that he might have been provoked by the girls, or speculating that there might be some mental illness making him say things like that, and that therefore the whole incident isn't really that bad, to me, is finding excuses.

 

[m.j.]

it is sad that kate moss didn't say a thing....
Posted via Mobile Device

 

[chloehandbags]

^ pointing out that he's been through some hard times lately (stress, loss of friends, alcoholism, etc), that he might have been provoked by the girls, or speculating that there might be some mental illness making him say things like that, and that therefore the whole incident isn't really that bad, to me, is finding excuses.

Who said the whole incident wasn't really that bad?

Whenever we do something, in life, we are invariably influenced by a multitude of factors; to not take those factors into account, when analysing someone's behaviour, would be ridiculously simplistic.

 

[brooksie]

They tried to sell the video to french medias but no one wanted it. There are several explanations possible: publicity contract with Dior, fear of the severe french legislation on a person privacy, video too expensive... That's why they turned to The Sun. If the infamous video was already known in the media circle I can't imagine Dior never heard of it before.
http://www.arretsurimages.net/vite.php?id=10521

Yeppers! This post is so on point. For starters, France's extremely strict privacy laws are of such that no French media outlet would have touched that tape upfront, but they could (and ultimately did) cover it once the story broke elsewhere (ie in England's rag The Sun). It's an old trick (Rupert Murdoch is notorious for using it himself) that allows them to cover a story that was originally gotten via means that would leave them open to either legal or civil action if they'd covered the story outright.

That tape has some very interesting issues surrounding it methinks. While it exposes him to the general public, it'll probably never see court for any trial against him. If anything, whoever made the tape had better remain anonymous because they'll be open to both legal and civil action. IIRC, in France the privacy laws are in Galliano's favor here....it may have even been illegal to tape him w/o his permission and make money in this case.

As for the fashion media specifically, I can't imagine that too many would want to expose Galliano and risk having all other doors shut in their faces for who knows how long. I doubt Booze and shoes wanted to get rid of him bad enough to out their own backsides on the line because they've surely done that too. There's no way that Galliano is going to be the only one damaged here...LVMH will be too, if nothing but for reputation. They stand to make tons of $$$$$ off the Galliano's (potentially forever) last designs.

 

[Luca*]

Who said the whole incident wasn't really that bad?

Whenever we do something, in life, we are invariably influenced by a multitude of factors; to not take those factors into account, when analysing someone's behaviour, would be ridiculously simplistic.

Well, people are acting like it wasn't really a big deal. A lot don't even see why Dior had no other choice but to sack him.
People, here on TFS and elsewhere, highlight all this things " he was inebriated", "he was provoked", "he's been stressed out lately", " he was under so much pressure", people talk about depression, they talk about the possibility that the video was edited and that there could be so much more on it, bla...
If not to excuse his behaviour, why then?

You are right, there are a lot factors one has to take into account when analysing other people's behaviour, but we need to distinguish which factors are relevant and which are not.
If he'd just been rude and insulted others, I would have said "well yes, you're right, he's been this, he's been that, he acted like an a**, let him give his mea culpa and move on" but this is not about a simple public blowup.
To express yourself in a racist manner is nothing that happens just because you are exhausted.

 

[Squizree]

There's a really naughty part of me that think that LVMH will somehow still stay in touch with Galliano regardless of this whole incident. This whole thing reeks with cover-ups and dirty strategies.

 

[j´adore dior]

^ They have to, they own his line too.
Toledano was at his presentation this afternoon.

 

[cologne_rocks]

^Yeah, but I doubt that "John Galliano" was a really profitable line, peanuts compared to other brands they own. So dropping his line wouldn't hurt that much.

John should try to expand in Middle East for some reasons. I see his stuff selling well there given the current circumstances.

 

[TREVOFASHIONISTO]

I would love to hear what the models have to say about the whole thing, or are they not allowed to talk about this?

I believe Natalia Vodianova did say something along the lines of that John is a good person and its sad that he has fallen under the influence of drugs or alcohol.

 

[m.j.]

I believe Natalia Vodianova did say something along the lines of that John is a good person and its sad that he has fallen under the influence of drugs or alcohol.

she also said he was supporting her charity work

 

[Squizree]

So is he on trial right now? Whats his current status?

 

[educo]

How can you call drunken rants/retorts callous? Galliano seems like one of the very least callous designers out there. On the contrary he seems too affective - far from controlled.

So, we're gonna "blame it on the alcohol"?????? Please...

I love and admire this man's ability, do not get me wrong..his work utterly fascinates me...but when I'M drunk, I'm not saying racist statements. Goofy statements yes, but not racist.

As another John (Lennon) has said, "As within, so without".

 

[TianSoFine]

Yeah, Natalia Vodianova said that being from Russia, she's seen drunk people and she's seen what people do under the influence. She said that she does not blame Galliano at all for this.

educo, what if you were really drunk and someone was insulting+annoying you?

I'm sure the "I love Hitler" thing wasn't serious. He said "I love Hitler because people like you would be dead". His point is that people like whoever's talking to him would be dead. I find it highly unlikely that he actually loves Hitler, considering the fact that he's gay.

Of course it wasn't very smart of him, but this isn't a proper basis to claim that someone's openly racist.

 

[TREVOFASHIONISTO]

yes I dont know why people make it seem as if they are perfect citizens when drunk or under other influences, and I am sure most o us can agree when we are drunk we sometimes do things that while sober we would find appalling. We are so quick to point fingers and judge once someone has done something wrong...I dont believe what he said was right, but do you really think he is racist and loves Hitler? being gay and saing that would make no sense because if he was alive around that time he would have been killed by most citizens. I wish him the best in his path to health