REUTERS/Mike Blake
The Black Swan actress has officially severed all ties with the embattled designer.
Israeli-born Portman issued a definitive statement on the matter this morning. “I am deeply shocked and disgusted by the video of John Galliano’s comments that surfaced today,” said Portman, who appears in ads for Miss Dior Cherie perfume. “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.”
(More on TIME.com: The House of Dior Reacts to Galliano’s alleged comments)
“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,” she said.
Those remarks come one day after British tabloid The Sun published video footage, which was apparently of Galliano spitting Anti-Semitic comments at fellow diners in a Paris restaurant. “I love Hitler,” Galliano allegedly says in the video. “Your mother, your forefathers would be f—ing gassed and f—ing dead.” Galliano reportedly made the statements at La Perla, a Mexican-inspired bar-restaurant in the Marais—the historic center of Paris’ Jewish community.
(More on TIME.com: Watch a video of Galliano’s eccentric “underwater” Christmas tree)
Surely Portman’s words sting. But for Galliano, who has built his life around dressing women, Portman’s fashion statement at the Oscars probably hurt more. When reports of Galliano’s rant first emerged on Feb. 24, the actress decided to send back her Dior gown and walk down the red carpet in one made by designer Rodarte instead.
After police arrested Galliano on charges of assault and making anti-Semitic comments, his attorney was quick to deny the accusations. Even so, Dior suspended Galliano—who has been its creative director since 1996—pending the police investigation. Announcing Galliano’s suspension, Dior President Sidney Toledano said: “The House of Dior declares with the greatest firmness its policy of zero-tolerance regarding any anti-Semitic or racist statement or attitude.” (via The Jewish Chronicle)
(More on TIME.com: See where Christian Dior ranks in TIME’s list of the Top 10 most popular fashion houses on Facebook)