John Galliano, trapped by his antisemitic past, forced to renounce the tribute from the Metropolitan of New York

Designer John Galliano, one of fashion's great icons, has announced that he is renouncing the exhibition and gala that the Metropolitan Museum of New York (Met) had prepared for him as a tribute, driven by strong public opinion questioning his anti-Semitic past. As he himself published on social media, he has decided that the exhibition will not take place "after much reflection and discussion with those involved".

The decision comes after weeks of criticism and controversy over the anti-Semitic and racist comments Galliano has made in the past. Several public figures, including political leaders and influential people within the Jewish community, had opposed the exhibition, which was to last nine months and was to begin with next year's Met Gala. Had it been held, it would have been the third living designer to be honored in this way at the Costume Institute, the fashion branch of the museum, one of the most important in the world.

This is not the first controversy the designer has been involved in. It was also racist statements that led to his "dismissal as creative director of Dior in 2011,", at which point he was convicted by a French court for two incidents in a bar in Paris. The New York Times also recounts another incident in which the couturier said in a video that he "loved Hitler".

The resurgence of Galliano's controversial past has led him to decide to step away from the tribute because, as he explained, he does not want the debate surrounding his person to "put the Met in a difficult position or distract from the excellent work of theCostume Institute". "I also recognize and respect that an exhibition honoring my work could be painful for some," he said on Instagram.