Christian Dior has sacked John Galliano in the wake of his antisemitic rants in a Paris café, effective immediately.

Dior’s Jewish chief executive Sidney Toledano described Mr Galliano’s behaviour as “odious".

In a statement, he said: “I condemn most firmly the statements made by John Galliano which are total contradiction with the essential values that have always been defended by the House of Christian Dior.”

The company had already suspended the designer pending an inquiry, after he was arrested for allegedly attacking a couple and shouting anti-Jewish slurs at the woman.

Footage was then published online showing the British designer, 50, declaring his love for Nazi leader Adolf Hitler and mocking French and Italian tourists that their ancestors would have been murdered in the gas chambers.

Another woman went to the police and said she had had a similar experience with Mr Galliano in the same cafe last year.

Academy Award-winning actress Natalie Portman, who is the face of Dior's Cherie perfume, said earlier today that she was disgusted by the comments.

She said: "As an individual who is proud to be Jewish, I will not be associated with Mr Galliano in any way.”

Abraham Foxman, national director of the Anti-Defamation League, priased Dior's "swift and courageous action". He said: "It sends a clear a clear message that this kind of antisemitic rhetoric is unacceptable both in the fashion world and in larger society, and that such outrageous, bigoted behavior comes with a cost.

"Dior’s response should serve an example for other corporations to deal with this kind of behavior from their employees."

He added: "The fact that someone is brilliant in a certain field does not immunise him from facing the consequences of words that are hateful, bigoted or prejudiced."