Red Carpet Racism? Cannes Film Festival Under Fire

The Cannes Film Festival Committee is caught in a multi-million lawsuit due to a security guard who caused outrage with her racially discriminatory behavior towards actress Yoona.

According to the BBC on May 30, model Sawa Pontyjska from Ukraine filed a lawsuit against the Cannes Film Festival Committee, claiming that she suffered mental and physical damage due to a security guard who aggressively blocked her on the red carpet.

On May 19, during the 77th Cannes International Film Festival red carpet event, a security guard sparked racial controversy by excessively blocking stars of color, including Yoona, Dominican TV actress Mashiel Taveras, and African-American singer Kelly Rowland. She even got into an argument with Rowland and Taveras during this process.

Sawa Pontyjska claims that this incident has not only caused her mental and physical harm but also damaged her reputation. She demands compensation for damages of 100,000 euros (approximately $108,000). Pontyjska had a valid admission ticket during the red carpet event and tried to contact the committee to demand an apology. However, they decided to file a multi-million lawsuit after being ignored by them.

This incident also attracted attention in India. The influential Indian daily Hindustan Times reported that K-pop star Yoona faced racial discrimination at the Cannes Film Festival, stating, “Although Yoona did not express it outwardly, her expression looked uncomfortable.”