It seems like sometimes saying sorry and acting contrite is just not enough.
John Galliano has been working hard to put his anti-Semitic rant behind him, but some aren’t ready to forgive him.
The designer was all set to dress Moran Mazor, a Eurovision contestant from Israel, after her stylist “reached out to several international designers among them John Galliano. Fortunately, he accepted the challenge of designing a dress.”
But once the Israel Broadcasting Authority, who sponsors Israel’s participation and broadcasts the show, got wind of the deal, they banned her from wearing his designs.
The IBA’s Yoav Ginai fired off a memo to Moran’s agent, saying:
“I have no doubt as an Israeli and a Jew that such a ‘splendid resume’ precludes someone from dressing the Israeli Eurovision representative, at a time when racism and anti-Semitism is rampant in Europe, even if he had apologized.”
However the Anti-Defamation League, who has been working very closely with Galliano since the incident, is UP-SET! National Director Abraham H. Foxman released his own statement, in which he said:
“I am outraged and embarrassed that an entity representing Israel would reject Mr. Galliano. To reject someone who has now embraced Israel and the Jewish people is outrageous. This is not the lesson that you give your children. Rejecting someone who gave a sincere apology is not Jewish tradition. We are a people that forgive and this is not the way to overcome bigotry. Mr. Galliano is a changed man. The Israel Broadcasting Authority must realize this. It is great to see that he is working with Israeli artists. He has continued to work hard in establishing relationships, and has shown us and the world that he is taking steps to understand and grow from his past mistakes. To continue to boycott him is not constructive.”
Everyone makes mistakes, and while Galliano’s was major, he seems to have done everything possible to right the wrong.
But Mazor doesn’t want to risk it and her agent at Liam Productions said she won├óΓé¼Γäót be wearing the Galliano-designed frock.
Thoughts???
[Image via News Pictures/WENN.]
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