Natalie Portman Condemns John Galliano for Anti-Semitic Remarks

Natalie Portman condemned ex-Christian Dior designer John Galliano for his anti-semitic rant in a Paris cafe.

The Oscar-winning actress had just signed on to endorse Miss Dior Cherie perfume and was predicted to wear one of Galliano's dresses to the Academy Awards. Instead, she opted for a Rodarte gown and released a statement on Monday about the video that captures the designer saying "I love Hitler."

"I am deeply shocked and disgusted by the video of John Galliano's comments that surfaced today," the "Black Swan" star said in the statement via The New York Times. "In light of this video, and as an individual who is proud to be Jewish, I wlll not be associated with Mr. Galliano in any way."

The New York Times writes that it's unclear how Portman's contract with Dior may be affected.

Galliano was suspended and later dismissed from the French fashion line earlier this week after he was accused of uttering anti-semitic remarks to patrons.

A cell phone video published by British Tabloid The Sun shows one of the alleged rants against two people at Parisian bar La Perle.  In the undated video, a drunken man -- who appears to be Galliano -- tells one of the women he loves Hitler and, "people like you would be dead. Your mothers, you forefathers, would all be f******* gassed."

When the woman asks the designer if he has a problem, Galliano responds, "With you, you're ugly." The man who shot the video told The Sun he was a friend of the two patrons and that they were French and Italian, but not Jewish.

The designer arrived at a police station in Paris on Monday to respond to allegations in another incident of anti-semitic slurs towards a French couple, who The New York Times identifies as Geraldine Bloch, 35, and Philippe Virgitti, 41. No official charges have been filed against him.

Other eyewitnesses painted a separate picture. Galliano's chauffeur, Women's Wear Daily reports, said the two patrons mistook Galliano for a bum and insulted him, and denied he responded with hateful language.

Selected Reading:The New York Times, Women's Wear Daily, Huffington Post

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