- Join the France 24 community here
- Log in
Latest update: 04/03/2011
- anti-Semitism - fashion - France - justice - Paris
Prosecutors seek to try Galliano over racist tirade
Prosecutors in Paris have said that they will seek a trial of former Dior designer John Galliano for an alleged racial tirade in a Paris bar. Galliano faces up to six months in prison and €22,500 in fines if convicted.
By News Wires (text)
AP - Paris prosecutors on Wednesday ordered famed fashion designer John Galliano to stand trial in the coming months over alleged racial insults following a police investigation.
The trial could take place between April and June, and Galliano could face up to six months in prison and €22,500 ($31,000) in fines if convicted, the prosecutors office said in a statement.
The news came shortly after the talented 50-year-old designer apologized for his behavior after top-tier house Christian Dior sacked him as creative director over anti-Semitic remarks.
Video of an inebriated Galliano praising Hitler and the subsequent firing of one of the industry’s most talented and moneymaking designers has sent shock waves through Paris Fashion Week, which began Tuesday.
Related Content
‘Darth Vader’ demands free land from Ukrainian government
Browse all editions
FRANCE 24 PARTNERS
Comments (7)
Galliano's spiel
As an American that reads &/or hears biggoted remarks everday that are outrageous & often includes graphic violence inciting, I cannot understand the big brouhaha being made over a drunken man's ranting towards other cafe` customers. In the film at least it is apparent the 2 females were purposefully interfering in his privacy at a table & egging him on. I have to wonder how much of France's intense racial & cultural divisions going on has to do with the selective prosecution of remarks against 1 particular religion while another religion is daily under persecution.
I also do not understand the industry & the country that so shortly ago awarded a top prize of honor to Mr Galliano not standing up for him. That's not to say approve of his drunken rants & questionable use of words to shock others, but not persecute a man publically for questionable behavior.
Galliano's comment
It is frightening ! You do not see the first part of the scene when he was stalked and talked to. He was really angry and wanted to fight back with the same level of agressivity he felt he was agressed. Obviously, those people made him furious, he was drunk, wanted to fight back. We all know people who want to shock and say the things which will be felt as extremely shocking whatever it takes. Spying on private life like smart phone do is unacceptable. What Galliano
has said is unacceptable but we should be able to behave as we wish in a private situation freedom of speech when drunk is not to much to ask in a private context in a democracy
Punishment for rudeness?
I cannot understand why anyone would face prison and formal crime charges over being rude, racist or of any other opinion that may seem terribly offensive. Regardless of the French having very reasonable hatred for the name and memories of Hitler, speaking of him cannot be a crime, really? Is the freedom of speech not part of the French society? Is it not the right of all sanctioned life to have the right to express, even if it is terribly objectionable? There must have been more to his misconduct to warrant a crime? Too many of our future theorists have written and even prophetically described the use of government power in forcing compliance of opinion that his really cannot be happening.
Galliano' remarks
The thought of prosecuting anybody for mere "remarks" is far more frightening than any "remarks" could possibly be. Freedom of speech for the speech we abhor insures freedom of speech for the speech we adore.
Drunk
I believe that he obviously was drunk but was in the wrong because those girls are probably big fans of his designs and wanted to go and say hi or start a conversation with him. Which I believe there is nothing wrong talking to your favorite designer. but he did say some language that may have been offensive to the jewish women. So really if he has broken the law, he must go to court and its as simple as that and Just because he is a famous designer does not mean he gets to forget about it and go on with life.
Galiano's persecution
From the cell phone video my opinion is that Mr Galiano was Not praising Hitler but saying something to shock the 2 women interfering in his dining space & inciting him in a verbal assault exchange. Since when does someone video a interchange with a stranger in a cafe`? Why were they bothering him to start with? If he was the originated of rudeness then why continue to incite the drunken man at the next table?
& WHY is no one, Not Dior's top CEOs, Not the Frecnh Gov't outraged about Galiano's comments regarding the female's biological gender insults? In a country where professing signs of believing in Islamism persecuting a personage who has recently won a medal from the Gov't for his contribution to France's economy via his Genius - this all seems a set up & unreasonable.
Fortunately Mr Galiano will revoer from his alcoholic binge & have a future that Dior will pale beside.
He was drunk and irritated
He was drunk and irritated with the women who were questioning him who were obviously Jewish. Was he wrong - YES, Should he loose his job and go to jail - NO. This isn't news, this is retarded. Everyone has a right to their opinion and we unfortunately express those opinions when we are drunk. Taking his job and sending him to jail is not going to change his opinion. Respect has to be earned, you can't force it on people, and this is between him and women he was speaking with. This is not news, this is just a drunk man.
Post new comment