Natalie Portman has slammed John Galliano following the emergence of a video showing the fashion designer apparently shouting anti-Semitic abuse at two women in a Paris bar. Galliano has now been sacked from Dior.
In the video, Galliano appears to say: “I love Hitler”.
He then tells a non-Jewish woman in the bar: “People like you would be dead. Your mothers, your forefathers would all be fucking gassed.”
John Galliano arrested, suspended from Christian Dior
Portman, who has an endorsement contract for Dior, where Galliano was creative director, was shocked at the contents of the video.
The Black Swan actress, who picked up an Oscar gong on Sunday and is Jewish, said she was “shocked and disgusted” by the video.
She said: “In light of this video, and as an individual who is proud to be Jewish, I will not be associated with Mr Galliano in any way. I hope at the very least, these terrible comments remind us to reflect and act upon combating these still-existing prejudices that are the opposite of all that is beautiful.”
The video came to light after the 50-year-old Galliano was accused of shouting anti-Semitic slurs at a couple in the same Paris bar last Thursday.
Police have quizzed the fashion designer over the alleged remarks.
Dior’s chief executive, Sidney Toledano, said in a statement today that the
company had begun procedures to fire him.
“I very firmly condemn what
was said by John Galliano, which totally contradicts the values which
have always been defended by Christian Dior,” Toledano said.
Galliano denies the claims.
Watch John Galliano’s “I love Hitler” rant here.
