Disgraced former Dior designer John Galliano issued a statement today apologizing for his anti-Semitic tirade but also denying the claims against him, saying he was provoked into making the offensive remarks.

Galliano claims that the bar fight last week that kicked off this debacle was started by a couple that vocally disparaged his looks and dress and threatened to throw a chair at him. He reacted by hurling anti-Jewish slurs at them and was subsequently arrested. Naturally, he says he's sorry and is seeking help (standard operating procedure during a shame cycle), but he doesn't address a previous video of him speaking ill of Jews which only surfaced after the news of his bar fight broke.

Oh, John, the time for fighting is over! No matter what those people said about you, there is a video of you being mean to Jews. In the modern age, that means you're guilty. If you ever want to work again you need to keep apologizing, donate some money to Jewish charities, and go to rehab. After that everyone will forgive you and we can get to scolding the next person who goes on an anti-Semitic tirade—which are horrendously in vogue right now. By saying it's not true, you just look like that much more of a jerk.

Here's the full statement:

Since the events of last Thursday evening I have not been able to make any public comment on what took place based upon advice from my French lawyer. However, given the continuing delays at the French Prosecutor's Office I should make my position clear.

I completely deny the claims made against me and have fully co-operated with the Police investigation.

A number of independent witnesses have given evidence and have told the Police that I 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. For these reasons I have commenced proceedings for defamation and the threats made against me.

However, 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. I only have myself to blame and I know that I must face up to my own failures and that I must work hard to gain people's understanding and compassion. To start this process I am seeking help and all I can hope for in time is to address the personal failure which led to these circumstances and try and earn people's forgiveness.

I have fought my entire life against prejudice, intolerance and discrimination having been subjected to it myself. In all my work my inspiration has been to unite people of every race, creed, religion and sexuality by celebrating their cultural and ethnic diversity through fashion. That remains my guiding light.

Anti-Semitism and racism have no part in our society. I unreservedly apologise for my behaviour in causing any offence.

[Image via AP]