Disgraced British designer John Galliano has been stripped of the Legion d'Honneur, the top French medal he was awarded in 2009 for services to haute couture. Galliano, 51, will no longer have the right to wear the medal following its withdrawal under a decree signed by President Francois Hollande which was published in France's official journal on Thursday.
The former artistic director of fashion house Dior was convicted last year of hurling anti-Semitic insults at patrons of a Paris bar. Galliano blamed the outburst on drink and drug problems and went into rehab for two months. He has since kept a low profile, but recent unconfirmed reports suggest he is considering moving to Los Angeles. Dior have replaced him with Belgian designer Raf Simons.