Oscar winner Natalie Portman says she’s “shocked and disgusted” at new footage of a famous Christian Dior designer’s anti-semitic rant.
The footage is of John Galliano, the company’s head designer since 1996, yelling at patrons at Paris’ Le Perle bar. Last week, two Le Perle customers accused him of physical and verbal assault, pulling one woman’s hair and calling her a “dirty Jew face,” leading to his arrest.
Yesterday, a video hit the Internet of Galliano at the same bar telling customers, “I love Hitler,” and saying, “People like you would be dead today. Your mothers, your forefathers would be f**king gassed.”
It is being reported today that Galliano has been fired, and a statement from Christian Dior Couture Chairman and CEO Sidney Toledano reads,
“I unequivocally condemn the statements made by John Galliano which are in total contradiction to the longstanding core values of Christian Dior.”
Portman, who reportedly chose Rodarte over Dior on Oscar night after hearing of the designer’s tirade, released a statement saying,
“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.”
You could watch the video for yourself below, but be warned: it contains audio that some will find very offensive:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RCQupzwXS0A