[Updated at 8:57 a.m.] Flamboyant fashion designer John Galliano was found guilty Thursday on charges of making anti-Semitic comments against at least three people in a Paris cafe.
The French court gave him a suspended fine of 6,000 euros ($8,415) but he was not sentenced to jail time. The plaintiffs were awarded one symbolic euro each. Aurelien Hamelle, Galliano's lawyer, told CNN he was not surprised by the verdict.
He said the designer was happy it was all over and wants to put the whole episode behind him. Galliano was not present at the trial because he didn't want to face the media, his lawyer added.
The designer could have faced up to six months in jail and a fine of 22,500 euros ($32,410), prosecutors said before the verdict.
Galliano, who was fired by fashion giant Christian Dior in March after a video surfaced showing him praising Nazi dictator Adolf Hitler, testified at the start of the trial in June that drugs were to blame.
Judge Anne-Marie Sauteraud read out a list of the abuse Galliano was accused of hurling at Geraldine Bloch and Philippe Virgitti, including obscenities mixed with remarks about their ethnic backgrounds.
"He said 'dirty whore' at least a thousand times," the judge said.
Galliano said on the witness stand that he had no memory of making the comments.
Asked to explain his "lack of memory," he said: "I have an addiction. I am currently undergoing treatment."
Galliano's attorney said before the trial began that the designer "was a sick person, who was suffering from addiction and this is something we are demonstrating through medical evidence, expert reports."
"We must not judge a man who for 30 years has been dedicated to diversity, who has been a loving person for all races, cultures and religions ... based on 40 minutes where he was sick through alcohol and medication," Hamelle said.
Galliano testified that he suffered from an increasing workload and that he had had no time to mourn after the 2007 death of his alter ego at Dior, designer Steven Robinson.
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Yeah and if you say something bad about them they throw you in jail. Is this for real? So if someone says something bad about Norwegians it's totally alright but say something about Jews and go to the slammer? Seriously??
Alex, there is a difference between Jews and Israel. Not all Jews are Israelis nor do all Jews support Israel in a lockstep fashion. In fact, not all Israelis do so either. Have you ever heard of the organization Peace Now? Apparently not.
You are an antisemetic moron. The only democracy in Africa idiot. Our only friend in the middle east.
So Roman Polanski is alright as far as the French are concerned but just "say" something bad about Jews and all hell breaks loose. Now what religion/ethnicity is Polanski again? Oh that's right - Jewish. Hmmmmm.
In other words, if you're Jewish raping a child is alright. If you're not Jewish saying something bad about Jews is a criminal offense. Yeah, those French are absolutely briliant.
Yes, it's a great big jewish conspiracy. Idiot.
Exactly.....it's the same here in the US....
Everything I stated is fact. You must be Jewish, ya idiot.
In fact your handle suits you perfect.
Thayer the only thing missing from your statements are facts. Get a clue and learn about French law. It includes hate-speech in general. Anti-Muslim speech is also illegal.
Polanski is not jewish you tard.
I'm sure he sad lots of things about other people as well – but of course that doesn't make it on JNN, sorry CNN.
Agreed... there's no denying it. I'm not a fan of conspiracies either but when you look at what happened when Jimmy Carter's book came out, what happened to CNN's Rick Sanchez it definitely gives one pause....
In the US you get in someones face like that and call them insulting racial words you just get your teeth kicked in...
big babies. The french have some big baby laws. Bunch of big babies. Gave up their country to hitler w/o a fight
ubetchya. keep believing your delusions. its all smoke and mirrors. i hope one day the veil gets lifted. if only the aliens would just land and tell us the true history. but no it would be considered a breach of security and we'd probably fire nukes at them.
yeah, that's it...
After millenia of persecution, they figured the only way to combat the prejudice of others was to succeed (in business, education, medicine, law, politics, etc.). With success comes power. Too much success causes envy and more prejudice. It's a vicious cycle. Jews have made disproportionate contributions to the modern world, too.
oui oui oui all the way home .
As usual, the bigots are squalling here. These forums are nothing if not amusing. As for Galliano, his design days are over anyway, so why shouldn't he get a smackdown for mouthing off in public like a little thuglet?
That's a good question. Here's a Biblical reason: God said, "I will bless those who bless you, and curse those who curse you." (Gen. 12:3) Even the Muslims know this warning, which they have never heeded.
Alex, are you sure you don't harbor any stereotypes? You're in NJ, so surely you've had time to observe these Jews. And why should we care about Israel, such a small and insignificant strip of land. It's merely the size of New Jersey, with about the same number of Jews. Maybe Obama should ask NJ to secede! Maybe you should tell your friends who aren't popular or important that you don't give a crap about them anymore...they're insignificant. Before writing, are you truly incapable of identifying reasons why a country may be friends with another even if they're small? Phew.
How come most times that a "celebrity" is caught blundering and saying the wrong things they blame it on alcohol/drugs and then immediately check themselves into rehab?