2 March 2011
Last updated at 11:50 ET
British fashion designer John Galliano has said he apologises “unreservedly” after allegedly making anti-Semitic comments in Paris last week.
In an statement, the 50-year-old said racism “has no part in our society” and apologised for his behaviour causing any offence.
But added: “I completely deny the claims made against me and have fully co-operated with the police.
Galliano was sacked from fashion house Dior over the incident.
The couturier added that he accepted the allegations had “greatly shocked and upset people”.
Police briefly detained Galliano on Thursday night in the French capital after a couple accused him of making anti-Semitic remarks. He also allegedly traded slaps with them.
He was dismissed by fashion house Dior on Tuesday after footage emerged of a separate incident in which he was shown telling two women in a cafe: “I love Hitler.”
Galliano said he had remained quiet on the advice of his French lawyer, but wanted to make his “position clear” because of delays in the case.
He claimed witnesses had given evidence to police that he was verbally harassed and subjected to an “unprovoked assault” during the incident last week, where someone tried to hit him 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,” he said.
The designer said he wanted to “address the personal failure which led to these circumstances and try and earn people’s forgiveness”, adding he was now “seeking help”.