Chief Christian Dior Designer John Galliano, who was suspended from his duties at the fashion house after allegedly making anti-Semitic remarks at a couple in Paris, plans to file a defamation claim against the two, his lawyer says.
“There was an altercation,” Galliano’s lawyer Stephane Zerbib told AFP on Friday. “Mr. Galliano was verbally attacked, but at no point did he make any such insults, and we have witness testimony that backs this up.”
French newspaper Le Figaro obtained the police reports: The file states that the female victim claimed Galliano sat at a table next to her and a male friend of Asian decent. He ordered a mojito and called the woman a “b—h”.
“Dirty Jewish face, you should be dead. F—–g Asian bastard, I will kill you,” she claims he also said, according to the reports.
It is still not clear why the argument began in the first place.
Galliano was briefly arrested and detained by police Thursday, prompting . Dior’s Chief Executive Sidney Toledano to suspend him, pending results of the inquiry.
In France making anti-Semitic remarks is punishable by up to six months in prison.
No charges have been filed against Galliano.
Galliano’s lawyer said legal action will be taken against those making anti-Semitism allegations against him, adding the designer “is not at all in this state of mind (and) will explain later.”
