John Galliano will not be guest teaching at Parsons the New School for Design this spring. The class he was to lead, which was originally billed as “a dynamic and intimate opportunity for [Parsons] students to learn from an immensely talented designer," received an outpouring of complaints and support from the college's divided community. A spokesperson for the school stated that, "We could not reach consensus with Mr. Galliano on the conditions of this conversation, and the program could not move forward.”
The British designer's infamous anti-Semetic rant and ensuing scandal seemed to split those who wanted to learn from the former Dior designer, and those who petitioned to keep him from restoring his reputation. But, according to an anonymous New York Times source familiar with the decision, it wasn't this petition or concern that swayed the administration's decision.
Apparently, "Mr. Galliano had not asked for restrictions on the content of the talks." Instead, the resolution to cancel hinged on "the size and the makeup of the audience that had been debated between the school and the designer." The two parties never came to a final agreement. If this was a planned step for Galliano to re-enter the good graces of the fashion industry and obtain forgiveness from society as a whole, it looks like he'll have to find another path.
[via NYT]
