• About
  • Foundation
  • NWAW Events
  • Community Calendar
  • Advertise
  • Contact
  • Seattle Chinese Post

Northwest Asian Weekly

  • Community
    • Names in the News
    • Business
    • Pictorials
    • Obituaries
  • Nation
  • World
  • Arts & Entertainment
  • Columns
    • On the Shelf
    • At the Movies
    • A-POP!
    • The Layup Drill
    • Wayne’s Worlds
  • Opinion
    • Editorial
    • Publisher Ng’s blog
    • Commentary
    • Letters to the Editor
  • Astrology
  • Classifieds
You are here: Home / Opinion / Editorials / Editorial: Designer caught saying anti-Semitic and anti-Asian remarks — Where’s the outrage?

Editorial: Designer caught saying anti-Semitic and anti-Asian remarks — Where’s the outrage?

March 3, 2011 By Northwest Asian Weekly Leave a Comment

Last week, John Galliano was suspended as creative director at Dior fashion house.

On a mobile camera in a Paris cafe, an enraged Galliano was seen having a heated conversation with a couple who were Asian and Jewish, according to witnesses. Witnesses told police that Galliano was making anti-Semitic remarks and that it escalated to the point where the Asian man picked up a chair and was threatening to hit Galliano with it. That was when Galliano said an anti-Asian remark, according to witnesses. Since then, a cell phone video of Galliano surfaced. In the video, he was seen making anti-semetic remarks to the persons capturing the video, at one point saying, “I love Hitler, and people like you would be dead today.”

Since then, many have blasted Galliano for his remarks. Paris prosecutors have ordered Gallaino to stand trial over alleged racial insults. His attorney, however, has said that Galliano has been the victim of a “veritable lynching” in the court of public opinion.

Galliano has apologized in a public statement. “Anti-semitism and racism have no part in our society. I unreservedly apologize for my behavior in causing any offense.” But don’t feel too sorry for him, because, referring to the incident with the Asian/Jewish couple, he said the story is untrue. “I completely deny the claims made against me and have fully cooperated with the police investigation.”

Galliano’s attitude is bothersome and offensive, but it’s not the worst part. The worst part is that many people in the fashion world are brushing off the comments and don’t seem to take them very seriously.

Designer Giorgio Armani was asked about his thoughts on the matter, and he said (translated from Italian), “I’m very, very sorry for him. It’s obviously a difficult time for him. I’m also very sorry that they even videotaped him without him knowing, and now that’s all out.”

Stylist Patricia Field, who worked on “Sex and the City,” has insisted that the video is a farce, likening his anti-Semitic remarks to theater.

Fashion has always been accused of being a very Euro-centric business, but as of late, it has seen massive expansion into Asia due to Asia’s economic boom. More and more Asian models and designers are being employed, possibly to appeal to the growing subset of affluent Asians who are buying designer brands.

Even with these strides, high fashion is still relatively behind, in terms of embracing diversity, compared to other businesses. The excuses made for Galliano shows this.

Additionally, some are excusing Galliano for his behavior on the videotape and have said that it’s unfair to judge him because he said the comments when he was very drunk.

Is this what we want to teach our kids? That it’s OK to say horrible things after a few drinks? Surely not. ♦

Share:

  • Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Google+ (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Tumblr (Opens in new window)
  • Click to email this to a friend (Opens in new window)

Related

Filed Under: Editorials Tagged With: 2011, Asian Jewish, Designer Giorgio Armani, Editorial Designer, John Galliano, OK, Paris, Stylist Patricia Field, Vol 30 No 10 | March 5 - March 11

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • RSS
  • Twitter
  • YouTube




Subscribe to our e-news

PICTORIAL: A very snowy new year!

PICTORIAL: Gary Tang’s “Express Yourself” fashion show

PICTORIAL: Top Contributors Award Gala 2018

Copyright 2018 Northwest Asian Weekly. All rights reserved.
loading Cancel
Post was not sent - check your email addresses!
Email check failed, please try again
Sorry, your blog cannot share posts by email.