Parsons School cancels Galliano workshop

NEW YORK - New York's Parsons School of Design has canceled a workshop that disgraced fashion designer John Galliano was set to give in a step toward his rehabilitation after being sacked by Christian Dior for an anti-Semitic outburst.

The four-day master class at the prestigious school had come under a bombardment of complaints and an online protest.

"An important element of the planned workshop with John Galliano was a candid conversation about the connection between his professional work and his actions in the world at large," Parsons said in a statement issued late Tuesday.

"Unfortunately, we could not reach consensus with Mr Galliano on the conditions of this conversation, and the program could not move forward."

When it first announced the class, Parsons had said Galliano would offer a "dynamic and intimate opportunity for our students to learn from an immensely talented designer" and that he'd shown "serious intent to make amends for his past actions."

Galliano, who spent nearly 15 years at Dior, is widely considered to be one of the most brilliant fashion minds of his generation.

He lost his job in March 2011 after video emerged of him hurling anti-Semitic insults at patrons of a Paris bar. He was convicted last year in France of breaking anti-Semitism laws.

Galliano blamed the outburst on drink and drug problems and went into rehab for two months.