Galliano faces trial over racist comments

John Galliano's fall from grace continued Wednesday, as French prosecutors announced the designer will be put on trial for his alleged racial insults.

The trial could start as early as next month and if convicted, Galliano could face up to 6 months in prison and more than $30,000 in fines. He's already lost his job as creative director of Dior, plunging the iconic design house into uncertainty.

Earlier Wednesday, Galliano issued an apology of sorts, while continuing to maintain he was provoked into making anti-Semitic remarks in a Paris bar last week. "I unreservedly apologize for my behavior in causing any offense," he said in a statement. "I fully accept that the accusations made against me have greatly shocked and upset people. I must take responsibility for the circumstances in which I found myself and for allowing myself to be seen to be behaving in the worst possible light."

In the statement, the designer, 50, said he was "subjected to verbal harassment and an unprovoked assault when an individual tried to hit me with a chair having taken violent exception to my look and my clothing."

The statement made no mention of the video that surfaced over the weekend in which he can be heard saying "I love Hitler." Galliano said he would seek help "to address the personal failure which led to these circumstances and try and earn people's forgiveness."

As French Fashion Week got under way in Paris Tuesday, Dior officials said they would make their best effort to proceed with their show Friday even as speculation mounts as to who will take over the design helm. Among those mentioned: Givenchy designer Riccardo Tisci, Stefano Pilati of Yves Saint Laurent and Alber Elbaz of Lanvin. It's not clear if Galliano will proceed with the showing of his signature collection, scheduled for Sunday.

With news service reports

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