John Galliano Fired by Christian Dior for Alleged Anti-Semitic Rant
Christian Dior designer loses job, Natalie Portman's endorsement.
March 1, 2011 — -- On Monday, he earned the ire of Oscar winner Natalie Portman; today, designer John Galliano has been fired.
Christian Dior axed Galliano after a video surfaced online that appears to show the designer spewing anti-Semitic remarks. In the video, posted Monday on the website of the British tabloid The Sun, Galliano launches into a tirade at the Paris bar La Perle, declaring, "I love Hitler" and telling patrons that "people like you would be dead," and that "your mothers, your forefathers" would all be "gassed." It's unclear when the video was recorded.
Last week, in a separate incident, a Paris couple accused Galliano of verbally abusing them at La Perle. He was suspended from his post as Dior's creative director on Friday after those allegations.
In a statement released today, Dior's CEO, Sidney Toledano, said, "I unequivocally condemn the statements made by John Galliano which are in total contradiction to the longstanding core values of Christian Dior."
Galliano's lawyer, Stephane Zerbib, did not immediately respond to ABCNews.com's requests for comment.
Since joining Dior in 1996, Galliano, 50, has used his provocative sense of style to push the luxury label to the top of the fashion heap. Celebrities covet his creations; Nicole Kidman and Sharon Stone wore Dior gowns to Sunday's Academy Awards.
At the moment, Portman serves as Dior's most prominent celebrity endorser -- she stars in the new ad campaign for Miss Dior Cherie perfume. Backstage at the Oscars Sunday, after winning the best actress award, Portman declined to talk about Galliano's suspension. But the following evening, she released a statement condemning the designer's alleged rants.
"I am deeply shocked and disgusted by the video of John Galliano's comments that surfaced today," Portman 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."