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Remember when those charges against Roman Polanski were dredged up after all those years?
All of a sudden, hordes of ordinarily very rational stars were tripping over themselves to defend him. Never mind that he was an alleged rapist, he was so talented, so creative, they gushed.
Who cared that he fled the country rather than face the consequences of his actions? Not when his films were so wonderful.
Right. And maybe Ashley Cole was just having a tough day on the pitch when he fired at a work experience, and perhaps Charlie Sheen just got out of bed on the wrong side. Maybe Mel Gibson’s drink was spiked that time he made those nasty comments about Jews.
I mean, such a fantastic [insert profession here] couldn’t possibly hold such filthy views or be responsible for such disgraceful behaviour. Could they?
Of course they could – as all those examples and countless more prove. Yet whatever happens with John Galliano’s design career (and it isn’t looking good), we can expect any number of similar tweets, blogs and comments wailing about how terribly sad it all is.
I can see them now – sentences running along the lines of: “I’m not excusing what he said or did, but what a shame…”. Or, "disgusting, but did you like Nicole Kidman's dress at the Oscars?"
It is sad – sad that someone in this day and age can hold (and utter in public) such abhorrent things. It’s tragic that a nice meal in a bistro can be ruined by the incoherent ravings of an intoxicated man.
And it is depressing that France has a law criminalising hate-filled speech – depressing that it is still necessary.
But it isn’t sad when a bigot gets what they deserve.
I’m no fashion expert, and perhaps Galliano really is a rare talent. But if he holds the views he appears to, his abilities in the wardrobe department shouldn’t make the blindest bit of difference.