Many people usually look forward to the announcement of winners at the prestigious Cannes Film Festival in France each year. However, this year, the focus may shift from the victors to an unexpected demand for an apology.
Just a few days ago, Kelly Rowland, a former member of Destiny’s Child, became a trending topic online following a confrontation with a security guard at Cannes. In a widely circulated video, Rowland appeared visibly displeased as she raised her left pointer finger to a woman dressed in a black suit. The incident occurred when Rowland was seemingly hurried away while on the stairs, attempting to wave goodbye to the crowd.
Omg French Karen had Kelly Rowland all the way fucked up at Cannes pic.twitter.com/dubBT3IiF9
— chris evans (@notcapnamerica) May 21, 2024
On May 24, the 43-year-old singer addressed the dispute with the Cannes security guard, stating that she was only standing her ground.
“The woman knows what happened. I know what happened,” she said. “And, I have a boundary. And I stand by those boundaries and that is it.”
“There were other women who attended that carpet, who did not quite look like me, and they didn’t get scolded or pushed off or told to get off.”
Kelly Rowland on the Cannes incident: “There were other women on that red carpet who did not look like me that were not scolded, or pushed off, or told to get off. I set my boundary. I stood my ground and she stood hers.” pic.twitter.com/5hY4rwezZT
— chris evans (@notcapnamerica) May 23, 2024
Despite the overwhelming support the singer is receiving, there are still some who have pointed out that she was in the wrong and that racism had nothing to do with the way things unfolded.
Not everything is racism. Maybe you are simply a terrible fucking human being!
Kelly Rowland Hints Race Played a Factor in Cannes Security Fight https://t.co/QJtLGdvDqD via @TMZ— Darcy Gibbons (@gibbons_darcy) May 23, 2024
It’s not racism 🙄 https://t.co/HTYSBZNl0o
— iamfish (@iamfish111) May 23, 2024
This is not the case at all for the singer’s supporters, who cite the inconsistency in how American actress Heidi Klum received a different treatment during the event.
A picture is worth a thousand words… Kelly Rowland deserved better pic.twitter.com/cj9yIFjx1j
— Hues & Culture (@HuesAndCulture) May 22, 2024
Additionally, there have been similar incidents involving Dominican actress Massiel Taveras and South Korean singer-actress Im Yoon-A at the Cannes Film Festival 2024 with the same security guard.
Dominican actress Massiel Taveras was moved out of the carpet as she posed for photos at the Cannes Film Festival.
The same security guard was involved in an incident with Kelly Rowland. https://t.co/O3Q1788tjy
— Pop Crave (@PopCrave) May 25, 2024
Finding out that security racist woman at Cannes did the same thing to yoona on the red carpet??? Like why is she still there and not fired after Kelly rowland’s situation ???? pic.twitter.com/X3JnpLUXAd
— Rockville⁷🇬🇭🇬🇧 (@4lynnie_NY) May 25, 2024
Three separate times now this same “security guard” has been straight up aggressive with women of color at Cannes. Not a single article has named her – internet, you know what to do. #Cannes #Cannes2024 pic.twitter.com/CujpbQY2tZ
— kstrucks (@kstrucks) May 25, 2024
Kelly Rowland
Massiel Taveras
YoonaThere’s a pattern here. @Festival_Cannes should terminate her. #Cannes2024 pic.twitter.com/cixgGh0tZT
— Rajni (@RajniRajni2210) May 26, 2024
With these concerns, people on the internet are demanding an apology from Cannes as well as asking them to fire the until-now unnamed security guard.
Your employee is out there harassing your guest?!? Get your house in order smh.
— TJayy (@madcooldude) May 25, 2024
FIRE THE RACIST
— Gwenn (@garbanzobeans22) May 26, 2024
If you are going to have security who treat ppl like this then don’t invite women or ppl of color to come. It’s that simple🤬
— Sparkletini🥂🍾 (@GlitterazziDiva) May 26, 2024
It's time to issue a statement about your racist and overbearing security. Issue an apology to Kelly Rowland, Maisel and Yoona. No woman of color should ever attend Cannes!
— 🌹 Sabrina (@soulxmarz) May 25, 2024
As of this writing, Cannes has not yet released any statement addressing the issue.
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