Not the easiest story to be following, but since we’ve started down that path….Natalie Portman, who is the face of Christian Dior’s “Miss Dior Cherie” fragrance (print ad above), has issued a statement in response to the video of John Galliano, making anti-Semetic statements:  

“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.”

As it turns out, the video was made in December, and was separate from the incident for which Galliano was arrested last week. Via Telegraph.

In the latest update on  designer John Galliano, who was suspended last week by Christian Dior because of accusations he made anti-Semetic comments, we just spotted the above video on Fashioncopious (more details there on the case), in which Galliano is filmed making venemous comments, including “I love Hitler,” at La Perle restaurant in Paris, where the incident between Galliano and some nearby diners was said to take place. [UPDATE: Apparently this video is a separate incident from the one that led to his suspension though they both took place at La Perle.]  It’s really quite sickening and sort of heartbreaking so be warned before you hit play.

We had commented on Friday that major corporations put people on the chopping block for often whimish reasons, but had they seen this video it was clear they had good reason to suspend Galliano.

Since we posted the news of John Galliano being accused of hurling anti-Semitic remarks at a couple in Paris a couple days back, the rumors have been flying. And now we have some actual news from his lawyer from WWD:

His lawyer Stephane Zerbib told WWD the designer visited police in Paris’ third arrondissement at midnight on Friday to provide three witness statements that he never made any such comments. The designer has also filed a claim of defamation and injury against the couple – identified on Le Figaro’s Web site as Géraldine Bloch, 35, and Philippe Virgiti, 41 – and is now awaiting the decision of police, Zerbib said. Zerbib also said Galliano is “shocked” that Dior – citing a zero-tolerance policy on racism and anti-Semitism – suspended him from his job functions pending the outcome of the police investigation.

Christian Dior, while a storied fashion house, is also part of a publically traded, mega-corporation, Christian Dior S.A. to be exact, which has ties to LVMH Moet Hennessy Group, an even more massive public company (which has been in the news recently for irritating the heck out of Hermes). Above is an image of Bernard Arnault, the CEO and Chairman of both companies and the richest man in France. Some have implied that this happened because Christian Dior Couture has been struggling financially and leadership were looking for reasons to dump Galliano. And while its true it’s underperformed its luxury peers, it recently reported a positively-received earnings quarter. Still, given the strangeness of corporations, especially ones of this size, it’s shocking to read that Galliano is “shocked.” After all, however, legendary he may be to the fashion world, he’s still a weirdo outsider to corporate and as such, his head can be offed for the most whimish of reasons.