John Galliano Accuser Defends Designer
In an ironic twist of fate, Philipe Virgitti—the man who, along with girlfriend Geraldine Bloch, initially accused John Galliano of assault and anti-Semitic remarks—is coming to the designer’s defense.
"John Galliano does not deserve this," Virgitti said, according to Vogue UK. "I would like Mr. Galliano to benefit from this unhappy story by drinking a little less and getting back to making the dresses and shows that he did so well."
"For me it was a simple bar dispute," he said. “I don't think he is racist or anti-Semitic. I just think he's very ill."
Virgitti also told Le Parisien that he has to stand by his initial complaint now, as the “legal machine” can’t be stopped. He seems to have struggled with uncertainty as to how to proceed earlier in the case as well: Virgitti allegedly dropped the complaint against Galliano after meeting with the designer at a Paris police station on February 28, but he reinstated it the following morning.
The High Court in Paris will set a trial date on May 12 for Galliano, who has been charged with public insult by Virgitti, Bloch, and an anonymous woman. (The infamous video, which appears to show Galliano slurring “I love Hitler” in a bar, has no connection with the aforementioned case and cannot be used as evidence, though it no doubt contributed to Galliano’s termination from the house of Dior.)
Galliano, who issued an “unreserved” apology last week while simultaneously denying the charges against him, is reportedly in rehab.
