What was the immediate effect of John Galliano’s anti-Semitic outburst last week in a Paris cafe brawl? Natalie Portman, who ultimately went on to win the Best Actress Oscar, declined to wear Dior to the world’s most glamorous event.
Making it even more galling for Dior was another fact: Ms. Portman happens to be the brand’s face for the Miss Dior Cherie fragrance. In its quick dismissal of Mr. Galliano as Dior creative director after the discovery of another episode of bigoted commentary captured on video, LVMH realized that loose talk has alarming brand, marketing and sales consequences.