NEWSJohn Galliano Faces Jail Time: Karl Lagerfeld "Furious" at Designer's Actions
March 2 2011, Published 9:24 a.m. ET
Disgraced designer John Galliano is to stand trial over his alleged anti-Semitic remarks he directed at patrons while dining at a Paris cafe last week.
Prosecutors in Paris announced today that the former head designer of Christian Dior will stand trial, possibly taking place between April and June.
If convicted, Galliano could face up to six months in prison and about $31,000 in fines, the prosecutors office said in a statement to the Associated Press, via MSNBC.
The prosecutors added that he will face allegations of "public insults based on the origin, religious affiliation, race or ethnicity" against three people during his trial.
In the offensive clip below, an inebriated Galliano tells patrons at a Paris bar, “people like you would be dead” and that “your mothers, your forefathers” would all be “gassed.”
His dismissal from Dior, the fashion house he called home since 1997, comes during Paris Fashion Week, which began Tuesday. Dior is still moving ahead with their collection show on Friday.
Galliano, 53, issued a public apology today, the first time he has addressed his behavior.
He admitted he was seeking help and claims, "I fully accept that the accusations made against me have greatly shocked and upset people."
He also stated, "I completely deny the claims made against me and have fully co-operated with the police investigation."
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Head Chanel designer Karl Lagerfeld opened up to WWD of the horror Galliano's actions have caused the fashion community:
"I’m furious, if you want to know. I’m furious that it could happen, because the question is no longer even whether he really said it. The image has gone around the world. It’s a horrible image for fashion, because they think that every designer and everything in fashion is like this. This is what makes me crazy in that story. The thing is, we are a business world where, especially today, with the Internet, one has to be more careful than ever, especially if you are a publicly known person. You cannot go in the street and be drunk — there are things you cannot do... I’m furious with him because of the harm he did to LVMH and chairman and ceo Bernard Arnault, who is a friend, and who supported him more than he supported any other designer in his group, because Dior is his favorite label. It’s as if he had his child hurt."
