Model sues over Cannes red carpet ‘assault’
A Ukrainian model has lodged a legal complaint against the organizers of the Cannes Film Festival, alleging that she was forcibly handled by a security guard while on the red carpet.
Sawa Pontyjska, alongside other attendees, was captured on video facing a confrontation with the same steward during the esteemed French event. Singer Kelly Rowland also voiced her dissatisfaction, and footage of the guard interacting with South Korean actress Yoona and Dominican actress Massiel Taveras gained significant attention online.
Pontyjska, who works as a presenter for FashionTV, recounted to BBC News that she was subjected to “brutal” physical restraint as she attempted to enter the cinema with a valid ticket for the premiere of Marcello Mio.
On Wednesday, she shared images of legal documents accusing the festival of “physical assault and psychological damage”. She additionally expressed concerns about the impact on her reputation and is seeking 100,000 euros (£85,000) in compensation.
Despite requests for comment, festival organizers have not responded.
A video capturing the incident, which occurred on May 21, has garnered over 16 million views on TikTok. It depicts Pontyjska positioned at the entrance of the Palais des Festivals, being directed by the female guard who then encircles her with both arms.
The pair briefly struggled and Pontyjska almost dropped to the ground, before she tried to go back down the steps and was stopped by more security personnel and taken inside.
Pontyjska told BBC News she had been put in a “bear hug” and felt scared.
“I was trying to escape from this lock. I went down and I started to run away on the stairs because it was the way back [out],” she said.
“She was trying to push me in[side], so nobody can see what she’s doing with me. Then she kicked me out through the back door.”
Pontyjska said she was not doing anything wrong, and had since tried to contact the organizers to request an apology but had not received a response.
Her legal complaint said she was “violently challenged by one of a group of security guards” in front of “thousands of people”.
The use of physical force caused “acute pain”, and she also suffered “psychological trauma”, she wrote.
The unnamed guard made headlines during the two-week festival, including for a heated exchange when she tried to usher Rowland up the stairs at the same premiere.
The former Destiny’s Child singer later told the Associated Press: “The woman knows what happened. I know what happened. I have a boundary, and I stand by those boundaries and that is it.”
She continued: “There were other women that attended that carpet who did not quite look like me and they didn’t get scolded or pushed or told to get off. I stood my ground, and she felt like she had to stand hers.”
Taveras appeared to push the guard after repeatedly being hurried up the red carpet, while the same security worker was accused by Yoona’s fans of being overbearing as she ushered the South Korean star inside.
Cannes is known for having strict rules for guests on the red carpet.
Writing in the wake of last week’s events, the Hollywood Reporter’s Chris Gardner said most attendees are “always rushed down the carpet and up the stairs”.
He added: “For the most part, the job of security is to keep the flow of traffic moving and get everyone in their seats by the scheduled start time.”
More leeway is given to actors from the films being premiered, members of the jury, celebrities representing the festival’s sponsors, other major A-listers, or beloved festival veterans, he wrote.
