John Galliano.

British fashion designer John Galliano has been stripped of the prestigious Legion d’Honneur (Legion of Honor) medal awarded to him by the French Government in 2009 for his services to fashion. The decree to revoke Galliano’s Legion d’Honneur medal was signed by French President Francois Hollande and published in the country’s official journal, and follows his conviction last year of making anti-Semitic comments.

The offensive remarks by Galliano were made in three separate incidents in Paris. He was given a suspended fine of $7500 by a French court and was removed from his position as artistic director of fashion house Dior.

In one incident on February 24, 2011, at La Perle café in Paris, his anti-Semitic remarks were directed at Jewish museum curator Geraldine Bloch, and he also hurled racial abuse at her friend. In another incident that was recorded on video, Galliano declared his love for Hitler. Galliano blamed his outbursts on addiction to drugs and alcohol.