Parsons Cancels Galliano Workshop

Parsons the New School for Design has cancelled the previously announced workshop taught by the controversial designer, John Galliano, who last year was found guilty of making anti-Semetic comments.  The school issued a statement explaining the circumstances that led them to cancel:

"An important element of the planned workshop with John Galliano was a candid conversation about the connection between his professional work and his actions in the world at large. Unfortunately, we could not reach consensus with Mr. Galliano on the conditions of this conversation, and the program could not move forward."

Petition Started to Stop Galliano From Teaching at Parsons

John Galliano who is currently "unemployed" and still in the midst of a lawsuit with his former employers Galliano and Dior (the companies) stemming from anti-Semitic remarks made in a Paris cafe last year was recently taken on by Parson, a top design school, to teach a three day workshop called, "Show Me Emotion". 

Parsons said the workshop "will be a dynamic and intimate opportunity for our students to learn from an immensely talented designer" and then goes on to address his past behavior saying, "We believe that over the past two years Galliano has demonstrated a serious intent to make amends for his past actions."

Galliano & Dior Heads to Court of Appeals in October

John Galliano's lawsuit against his former employer Christian Dior is headed to the Court of Appeals on October 24th in Paris in order to determine which court has jurisdiction to hear the case.

In early 2011, Galliano was fired as creative director at Christian Dior Couture and artistic director at his eponymous label, John Galliano SA after making anti-semetic rants at a cafe in Paris in March 2011, sued his former employers for approximately €6 million ($7.8 million) in damages.  Last month, lawyers for Dior challenged the Labor Court's jurisdiction to hear the case and instead argued it should be heard in Commercial Court due to the complex nature of the multiple agreements and employment contracts it has with Galliano.

Galliano's attorneys plan to continue to argue that he was salaried employee and not an independent contractor as Dior is claiming, which would mean the Labor Court is not the proper venue to the hear the case.

Read More:
WWD (subscription red'q): Galliano-Dior Case Heads to Appeals Court
Fashionista: John Galliano’s Case Against Dior Heads to Appeals Court

Galliano is "Winning" Lawsuit Against Dior So Far

Photo: DiMITRIOS KAMBOURIS/GETTY IMAGES

John Galliano, who was fired as creative director at Christian Dior and artistic director at his eponymous label in early 2011 after making anti-semetic rants at a cafe in Paris, sued his former employers for an unspecified sum in damages.  Dior which has a 91 percent interest in Galliano (the label) are both defendants in this case.  Yesterday, Galliano appeared at the conseil de prud'hommes, a court that handles labor disputes, which ruled that the court was in fact qualified to hear the case.  

Jean Néret, lawyer for Dior and Galliano (the label) argued that the case should be heard by a commercial court due to the complex nature of the contracts with the two fashion houses.  Furthermore, Néret stated the labor court was not qualified to hear the case because Galliano was more an independent contractor than an employee.   Nonetheless, the court did not agree and Dior now has 15 days to appeal the decision, and if it does, the case will be transferred to the Paris court of appeal within nine months.