Galliano blames drugs, booze for racist slur

British fashion designer John Galliano told a Paris court that he cannot recall making alleged anti-Semitic, racist slurs in a bar earlier this year because of his addictions to alcohol and drugs

Galliano blames drugs, booze for racist slur

British fashion designer John Galliano told a Paris court that he cannot recall making alleged anti-Semitic, racist slurs in a bar earlier this year because of his addictions to alcohol and drugs.

Galliano claims he was under the influnce of valium and alcohol and does not believe in the words he uttered

The former Dior designer could face up to six months in prison and a fine of as much as ufffd21,000 (Rs 15 lakh) if the court finds him guilty.

When the judge asked Galliano about the incident on February 24 when a French couple at a Paris bar claimed he repeatedly insulted them with lines including 'dirty Jewish face', 'f*****g ugly Jewish b***h' and 'f*****g Asian b*****d', the designer said that he remembered nothing of the alleged charge.

The flamboyant couturier also told judges that he had been 'pushed to the edge' by financial and emotional pressures.

"I have no recollection," he was quoted as saying.

Triple addiction
Asked why he couldn't remember, he said he had a three-fold addiction to alcohol, sleeping tablets and valium.

He said there were many reasons for his addiction, including the success of Dior. He started drinking "in a cyclical way" in 2007.
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"After every creative high I would crash and the drink would help me to escape. At this point I had managed to turn creativity into a billion dollar business at Dior. Then the financial crash happened," he said.

Galliano, who was immediately sacked from the top job as creative director of French fashion house Dior, could face charges of making "public insults" based on origin, religion, race or ethnicity.
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His lawyer said, "Some things may have come out of his mouth that didn't come from his brain.

Every witness at the cafe has said he was acting out of character." Galliano said, "They're not views I hold or believe in.
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I see someone who needs help. All my life I have fought against prejudice and discrimination, having been subjected to it myself."

Rs 15 lakh
Amount Galliano will have to pay if the court finds him guilty