By, Jennifer Lipman
1 min read
ByJennifer Lipman, Jennifer Lipman
The Oscar winning Israeli actress Natalie Portman has disassociated herself from Dior’s chief designer John Galliano following fresh revelations about the designer’s attitude towards Jews.
Despite her position as the face of the Miss Dior Cherie perfume, Ms Portman said she was “deeply shocked” by the allegations about Mr Galliano’s behaviour.
She added: “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.”
The British couturier was suspended by Dior on Friday pending the outcome of a police investigation after a woman accused him of launching into an antisemitic tirade at her in a Paris bar, La Perle.
Mr Galliano instructed his lawyers to sue for defamation, but yesterday a video emerging showing him shouting at Italian and French women in the bar that he loved Hitler and that their ancestors would have been murdered in the gas chambers.
Ms Portman, who was born in Jerusalem and has often spoken of how important her Jewish upbringing was, added: “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.”
Her comments come two days after she chose to wear a dress by designer Rodarte to the Academy Awards, rather than one by Dior as she had been widely expected to do.
Very few major stars, beyond Sharon Stone and Nicole Kidman, wore Dior gowns on the night even though the label is usually a red carpet staple.
