Hate Will Cost You

As New York’s swells with the fashionable due to New York Fashion Week, the dark side of fashion is also getting some media attention.  You may recall in the beginning of this year, famed fashion designer John Galliano caught the world’s attention with his erratic outburst one evening in Paris when he hurled racist insults at a couple at a restaurant.  A legal and public relations minefield erupted soon after.  CanadaFashionLaw provided a run-down of the event previously.  Well, the hammer has officially come down on Galliano. 

Galliano was charged with “public insults based on origin, religious affiliation, race or ethnicity”.

A court in Paris has ordered Galliano to pay a fine of 6,000 Euros for his rant, a nominal payment to each victim and to 5 anti-racist organizations, and also the plaintiffs’ legal costs. 

The prosecutor did not seek jail time for Galliano, despite the offence carrying a 6 month maximum term of imprisonment. 

Without a doubt, the biggest cost has been to Galliano’s career.  Galliano was almost immediately released from his position at Christian Dior and also from his own namesake label.  Only time will tell whether he can bounce back from this embarrassment.