Anna Wintour May Have ‘Overplayed Her Hand’ with Controversial John Galliano Met Gala Theme

The fallout has reignited scrutiny of Wintour's leadership at Condé Nast, where she has faced a string of controversies since taking on the role of global chief content officer and artistic director.

Anna Wintour is facing fresh criticism after her plan to make John Galliano the centerpiece of the 2027 Met Gala fell apart in spectacular fashion.

Anna Wintour attends the 2026 Teen Vogue Fest at Duggal Greenhouse on July 25, 2026 in Brooklyn, New York. | Source: Getty Images

The theme, unveiled roughly a month ago, was meant to spotlight the designer's storied and divisive career. Instead, it triggered such fierce pushback that Galliano ultimately chose to withdraw from the event altogether.

Now, insiders are picking apart how the whole affair was managed. Sources say the roots of the controversy stretch back to Wintour's quiet campaign to restore her friend's standing in the industry — an effort that, in hindsight, may have backfired badly.

Anna Wintour and John Galliano at the Dior fashion show as part of Haute Couture Spring/Summer 2026 held at the Musée Rodin on January 26, 2025 in Paris, France. | Source: Getty Images

"Anna singlehandedly thought she could willfully get [Galliano] back in [fashion]. She's been at it a long time, and she really misjudged it, and she made him vulnerable while doing that," a source told Page Six.

"She's not reading the [expletive] room … She really overplayed her hand. They really need to take a beat, take a year off, because people don't have time for this [expletive] right now," the source sniped.

Wintour and Galliano's friendship goes back years. She stood by him through a stint in rehab and later during his long path to atonement following antisemitic and racist remarks he made at a Paris café in 2011.

John Galliano and Anna Wintour attend the Dior celebration of the reopening of its 57th Street Boutique - Dinner at LVMH Tower Magic Room on December 8, 2010 in New York City. | Source: Getty Images

Their bond was back in the spotlight this past February, when a fashion insider spotted the pair sharing a lengthy dinner with Vogue veteran Grace Coddington at Balthazar in New York's SoHo neighborhood.

The sighting was enough to raise eyebrows, with the source speculating, "Something is up. Anna is up to something."

Sure enough, just months later in July, Wintour unveiled "John Galliano: Horizons" as the official theme for the 2027 Met Gala. Still, a source close to the media mogul pushed back on the idea that the call was hers alone.

John Galliano and Anna Wintour attend a party at Bergdorf Goodman in New York City, circa 1998. | Source: Getty Images

"People seem to think she's the sole person [making the decision about Met theme]," the insider said. "It's a huge amount of people on the Met board that signed off on this. She's a piece of that."

"It wasn't her decision alone, by any stretch of the imagination. His exhibition … people have been speaking about it for at least a couple of years. It was a big group decision. It's a team effort. Not just her," the insider added.

Regardless of who was behind it, the decision drew immediate and vocal backlash from Jewish leaders and the museum's donors the moment it was made public.

Tom Sturridge, Alexa Chung, Alexis Roche, John Galliano, Anna Wintour, Pharrell Williams, Helen Williams, Delphine Arnault and Xavier Niel during Vogue World: Paris at Place Vendome on June 23, 2024 in Paris, France. | Source: Getty Images

Had it gone forward, Galliano would have become only the third living designer to receive a solo exhibition at the Met, joining Yves Saint Laurent in 1983 and Comme des Garçons' Rei Kawakubo in 2017.

In a statement released this week, the 65-year-old British designer explained his decision to step back.

"After much reflection and discussion with all those involved, I have decided, with great sadness, that it is best for the exhibition not to take place at this time," Galliano wrote.

John Galliano presents an award during The Fashion Awards 2017 in partnership with Swarovski at Royal Albert Hall on December 4 in London, England. | Source: Getty Images

"I remain fully accountable for the pain caused by my words in the past, particularly the hurt I caused to the Jewish and Asian communities, and I remain deeply sorry," he said.

"I understand that meaningful atonement is not achieved through an exhibition, institutional recognition or a single public gesture," he continued. "It is a continuing responsibility, demonstrated through listening, learning and one's conduct over time."

"I do not want the debate surrounding me to place the Met in a difficult position or to distract from the remarkable work of the Costume Institute," Galliano added. "I also recognise and respect that an exhibition honouring my work would be painful for some."