Parlez-moi de l’antisémitisme: John Galliano’s perfume pulled from Canadian shelves

Canadian model Jessica Stam is offering support to former Dior designer John Galliano, but Canadian department stores, not so much. Late last week, The Bay announced that it was pulling Galliano’s fragrance, Parlez-moi d’Amour, from its shelves, and now Holt Renfrew reports that “the fragrance has minimal presence on the floors and there are no plans to market … going forward.”

The Canadian retailers are late to the party, considering the instant backlash to a video capturing Galliano’s now infamous anti-Semitic tirade, but we’re just glad action is being taken. It beats the recent run of industry defenders and social media campaigning that proves to have little effect when retailers can’t commit.

Just last month, Parlez-moi d’Amour was positioned as an ideal Valentine’s Day gift—a sweet-smelling perfume from a renowned designer with a romantic streak. Today, Galliano’s product doesn’t speak to anybody of love. It stinks of hate.

• John Galliano’s perfume removed from some shelves [Globe and Mail]