An unidentified female security guard at the 2024 Cannes Film Festival has caused controversy after multiple celebrities, mostly non-white women, had uncomfortable interactions with her. Footage on social media shows Destiny’s Child alum Kelly Rowland, South Korean pop star Yoona, and Dominican actor Massiel Taveras having confrontations with the staffer, who appears to invade their personal space or put her hands on them. A video shared by Ukrainian model and Miss Europe 2023, Sawa Pontyjska, shows the guard wrapping her arms around Pontyjska and pulling her inside the venue, despite Pontyjska attempting to retreat. Social media users have called for the guard to be fired, with many accusing her of targeting women of color.
Kelly Rowland implied that the incident may have been racially motivated while speaking to The Associated Press, stating that she and the guard both know what happened, and she stands by her boundaries. She also noted that other women attending the red carpet who did not look like her were not scolded or told to get off. Many social media users have expressed outrage at the guard’s actions, with some calling for her immediate termination. Despite the backlash, the guard’s colleagues reportedly stated that she was just doing her job.
The Cannes Film Festival has a strict red carpet protocol, including rules against selfies and a previous requirement for women to wear high heels. However, it seems that some celebrities have gotten away with breaking these rules in the past. Julia Roberts and Kristen Stewart have walked the carpet barefoot, and Jennifer Lawrence wore flip-flops with her gown in 2023. The festival has faced criticism for the guard’s behavior towards Pontyjska, Yoona, Taveras, and Rowland, with many calling for accountability and a review of security practices at the event. HuffPost reached out to the Cannes Film Festival for comment but did not receive an immediate response.
