Fashion, seduction, racism: Who is John Galliano?

Misinterpreted genius, Neo-Nazi, maverick. He's been called all that and more of late. But is one of the biggest personalities in the fashion world suffering a breakdown of sorts, courting controversy -- or merely being himself?

Unless you live in a hole in the wall, you'll have seen his name and that of fashion house Dior in the headlines all week now.

In fact Paris Fashion Week, which commenced on March 1 and happens to be one of the biggest fashion dos in the world, has been sidelined by the diminutive diva and onetime darling of fashionistas everywhere.

Because when a celebrity is caught spewing racist venom in a drunken rant, it's always front page news. And this time it's enfant terrible and head designer of Christian Dior, John Galliano (or should we say ex-head designer, because the label has dumped him following news of his racist outbursts).

Inputs: ANI

While most of us need no introduction to the Dior name, not many this side of the world know much about Galliano, although the French label's success has been riding on him for the last 14 years.

The designer was born in Spain in 1960 and moved to with his family to the UK at the age of six. He graduated with a first class honours degree in fashion design in 1984 and receivede positive reviews for his very first collection.

Galliano decided to go solo from the start, launching his own label and holding his first showing at Paris Fashion Week in 1989. The designer then moved base to Paris in 1993 and two years later, found himself at the helm of French couture house Givenchy -- it was the first time in history that British talent was heading a French fashion label.

The designer's own label also prospered in Paris and in 1997, he took over at Dior. Known for his own personal outrageous sense of style, Galliano became a colourful staple on the French fashion circuit and his collections were always dramatic and feminine -- 'my role is to seduce', he has been quoted as saying.

And seduce he did -- celebs from Madonna to Kylie Minogue have stepped out in his designs, while supermodels like Naomi Campbell, Kate Moss and Linda Evangelista have strutted their stuff for him on the runway.

One wonders, therefore, in light of recent events, whether after a successful run of one and a half decades, Galliano merely decided to mix the theatricality of his talent with his personal life to court some controversy. Or is there truly a bigot lurking underneath that fashionable exterior?

On February 26, Dior suspended their top designer after he was arrested on suspicion of assault and anti-Semitism.

According to the police, he was accused of making anti-Semitic remarks after a late-night drinking session in Paris, which saw him attack a couple in a cafe, reports the Sun. Cops said the 50-year-old had drunk the equivalent of up to two bottles of wine when he was nicked.

The heated exchange occurred on Thursday, February 24, at La Perle cafe in the trendy Marais district, which has historically been the home of the area's Jewish community.

The female victim, who requested that she remain anonymous, told Europe 1 that Galliano sat down at a table next to her and a male friend of Asian decent around 9 pm. The designer then ordered a mojito and called the woman a "b---h".

The woman said as she called the cops, the 50-year-old designer continued, "Dirty Jewish face, you should be dead." and to her friend, he lashed out, "F-----g Asian bastard, I will kill you." The woman said she had no idea who he was until a nearby diner told her.

The very next day, Galliano's lawyer issued a statement on behalf of his client, stating that he was going to file a defamation lawsuit against the couple accusing him of making racist remarks.

"There was an altercation," lawyer Stephane Zerbib said. "Mr Galliano was verbally attacked, but at no point did he make any such insults, and we have witness testimony that backs this up."

Unfortunately for the British designer, March 1 saw the emergence of a video that showed him saying 'I love Hitler' and glorifying the Holocaust.

In a video posted online, the clearly visible Galliano tells a woman at a cafe 'I love Hitler' and adds: "People like you would be dead. Your mothers, your forefathers, would be...gassed and...dead," reports the Independent.

And in a third alleged incident, a woman approached Paris police at the weekend claiming she had suffered anti-Semitic abuse from Galliano in the same bar last October.

With so much negative press and embarrassment, it's not surprising that Dior sacked their top talent the same day, saying it had a 'zero-tolerance' policy on racism and anti-Semitism. The Paris-based firm further added that Galliano's remarks were 'particularly odious' and that it would take legal measures to ensure he leaves the company as soon as possible.

Actress and face of Miss Dior Cherie fragrance Natalie Portman also slammed the creative director on March 2, stating that she would not want to be 'associated with Galliano in any way' now.

"I am deeply shocked and disgusted by the video of John Galliano's comments that surfaced today. 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," the Telegraph quoted Portman as saying in a statement released from Los Angeles.

So what's the latest on the whole unpleasant saga? Galliano has today issued an apology. The Daily Mail quoted him as saying, "Anti-Semitism and racism have no part in our society. I unreservedly apologise for my behaviour in causing any offence."

He added that uniting people of different races, religions and sexuality has been his "guiding light".

He said, "I have fought my entire life against prejudice, intolerance and discrimination, having been subjected to it myself. In all my work my inspiration has been to unite people of every race, creed, religion and sexuality by celebrating their cultural and ethnic diversity through fashion."

"That remains my guiding light."

But it doesn't look like Galliano will get off lightly -- prosecutors in France said that he will still face a judge on charges of assault and anti-Semitism. Making anti-Semitic remarks in the country is punishable by up to six months in prison and/or fines of up to 19,000 pounds.

Meanwhile, there is no official word on Dior's showing, scheduled for tomorrow at Paris Fashion Week, or for that matter, the designer's own showing that was to be held on Sunday.

Will Galliano go to jail? We'll just have to wait and watch.