FRENCH FASHION HOUSE DIOR has fired its creative designer John Galliano after a video emerged in which he praised Hitler.

Galliano was suspended last week after allegations emerged that he had made anti-Semitic remarks at a Parisian cafe.

In the video, Galliano says “I love Hitler”, before pointing to a person off-screen and saying, “People like you would be dead. Your mothers, your forefathers, would all be f*****g gassed” (see video below).

He also says that the off-screen person is “ugly”.

“Odious nature” of comments

Actress Natalie Portman, who appears in Dior’s Miss Dior campaign, was reportedly due to wear one of their designs to the Oscars last weekend before allegations against Galliano emerged.

Portman is Jewish and was born in Israel.

In a statement published by the New York Times, Portman said she was “deeply shocked and disgusted by the video of John Galliano’s comments” and would not be associated with the designer “in any way”. She added:

I hope at the very least, these terrible comments remind us to reflect and act upon combating these still-existing prejudices that are the opposite of all that is beautiful.

The actress wore a simple dress designed by the US label Rodarte to collect her Best Actress Oscar on Sunday night. Rodarte was involved in her hugely successful Black Swan film.

Dior told the AP today that Galliano has been laid off “because of the particularly odious nature of the behaviour and words of John Galliano in a video made public”.

The fashion house is presenting its autumn-winter 2011-2012 ready to wear show during Paris Fashion Week this week.

Includes reporting from the Associated Press.