Galliano faces trial for alleged anti-Semitic remarks

Fashion designer John Galliano will deny being anti-Semitic at a trial for racially insulting three people in two separate incidents in Paris on Wednesday afternoon. Galliano could face up to six months in jail and a fine of 22,500 euros for “public insults based on origin, religious affiliation, race or ethnicity”.

Reuters

“First he insulted my clothes, then my appearance, then I was dirty. From dirty he went on to dirty Jew,” one of the plaintiffs, Géraldine Bloch told BFM-TV of her encounter with Galliano in the trendy La Perle bar last February.

She and her male companion, whom Galliano allegedly called “fucking Asian bastard”, have brought the case, backed by anti-racist groups.

Police say that Galliano exchanged slaps with the couple.

And the court will also consider accusations by another woman, who came forward after he was arrested for February’s incident to claim that he insulted her in the same bar the previous October.

Galliano denies the charges, while his lawyers have also said that he does not remember what happened because of his alcohol and drug problems.

And witnesses in La Perle in February will say they did not hear him making anti-Jewish remarks, while friends of the woman will back her up.

Fashion house Dior sacked Galliano, who is currently in rehab in Europe, as creative director after his arrest.

La Perle is in Le Marais district of Paris, where Galliano has a home. For a long time the area was Paris’s main Jewish quarter. It is now known as a gay area and fashion centre.