‘I remain fully accountable for the pain caused by my words in the past’
Page A8From§Eachthe matinee edition — 31 August 2026
Galliano’s Met Gala ouster preceded by pre-ouster ouster efforts
John Galliano’s solo exhibition at the Met Gala was officially pulled over a 15-year-old drunken rant (25), but according to a top NYC politician, the efforts to oust him were already underway before the initial ‘sick’ news of his participation broke (8). Sal’s column explores the absurd choreography of public relations, where a cancellation is never just a single act: it must be preceded by internal moves, external signals, and the carefully timed release of the rationale. The Met Gala appears to be less about showcasing fashion and more about managing reputational risk, where every move is double-booked, and every outrage has a prequel. Chip’s defense is a muddle of event standards and shifting explanations, ultimately landing on the tautology that the decision was made, and that’s what matters. Sal closes by noting that the machinery of high society runs as much on narrative as on couture—and this week, the script called for a cancellation with an extra helping of pre-ouster drama.
“Fashion’s PR machine can’t just cancel a designer; it needs a pre-cancellation, a post-cancellation, and a backstory. The Met Gala pulls Galliano for an old rant, but the ouster started before the sick excuse hit the wires—just in case anyone missed the plot twist.”
“The Met Gala has high standards, and sometimes it’s necessary to make tough decisions to protect the event’s reputation. Of course, the timeline is complicated, but ultimately they’re just responding to public sentiment. Or maybe they’re responding to internal sentiment. Or both. Did I say both? I mean, one. Either way, the decision was made, and that’s what counts.”
The receipts
A campaign to get disgraced designer John Galliano ousted from next year’s Met Gala began before the announcement of his controversial participation was ever made, City Council Speaker Julie Menin exclusively told The Post.
This page is a back-issue: the story as it ran, receipts as they were. The current edition is at the front.