'I Love Hitler' Dior Bigot Canned

Your morning fashion and beauty report: Galliano fired by Dior, blasted by Natalie Portman

-- Dior announced Tuesday it is taking steps to fire chief designer John Galliano after video surfaced of him making anti-Semitic comments -- this on the heels of his suspension after an altercation in a bar Thursday in which he is alleged to have hurled racist insults (both anti-Semitic and anti-Asian) at a couple. In a statement, Dior called Galliano's behavior "odious." Sidney Toledano, Dior's chief executive, said, "I condemn with the greatest firmness the comments made by John Galliano, in total contradiction with the essential values which have always been defended by Christian Dior." [Wall Street Journal]

-- Even before Dior's announcement, Oscar-winning actress Natalie Portman, the celebrity face of Miss Dior Cherie fragrance, had issued a statement disassociating herself from Galliano. "I am deeply shocked and disgusted by the video," Portman said. "In light of this video, and as an individual who is proud to be Jewish, I will not be associated with Mr. Galliano in any way." Galliano, 50, met with police Monday as they investigated the incidents, which could lead to criminal prosecution. Previously he denied the allegations stemming from the altercation Thursday, but then the video came to light in which he tells a different group of people they "should have been gassed" and says he "loves Hitler."  [People] 

-- Police say the criminal investigation will continue at least through this week, and there are some Galliano supporters awaiting the outcome before they condemn him.

-- Susan Denley, LA Times