Rowland Suggests Viral Cannes Incident Was Due to Racism

rowland suggests viral cannes incident was due to racism

ANTONIN THUILLIER

Kelly Rowland has spoken out about the viral moment on the Cannes Film Festival red carpet when she was seen wagging her finger at a staff member, suggesting the incident was racially motivated.

In a clip shared by The Associated Press on Thursday, the singer addressed the incident, saying she was treated differently to other stars on the red carpet and decided to stand her ground.

“The woman knows what happened. I know what happened,” Rowland says to the camera, fighting back tears. “I have a boundary, and I stand by those boundaries. And that is it.”

“There were other women that attended the carpet who did not quite look like me, and they didn’t get scolded or pushed off or told to get off,” she said, smiling through the pain. “And I stood my ground, and she felt like she had to stand hers. But I stood my ground, and that was it.”

During a premiere of the French-Italian film Marcello Mio on Tuesday, Rowland graced the red carpet of the Cannes International Film Festival, but her elegant entrance and interaction with the paparazzi were interrupted when event staff members tried to rush her off into the theater. The incident escalated when a staff member was seen placing an arm around Rowland to hurry her up the stairs and inside. Meanwhile, Rowland wagged her finger in the staff member’s face in a seemingly defensive manner.

“The people who are assigned to helping stars walk the red carpet were being aggressive, and [Rowland] was trying to ignore it,” an insider told The Daily Mail.

The exact reason why Rowland had the blow-up with the Cannes crew member is uncertain, but social media has speculated that the ordeal had something to do with racial discrimination considering the festival’s alleged history with racial bias.

“A lot of people (Black people and non-Black people) know exactly what happened as well,” an X user wrote. “A lot of us have been in Kelly’s position. I’m proud of Kelly for standing her ground.”

Journalist Nikki Fowler seemed to understand and relate to Rowland’s Cannes experience.

“To see Kelly endure prejudice, and yes I know exactly what that was by the videos and photos, is sad. Guess what? We aren’t the problem, when I can count on ONE hand how many Black women are in the audience at Cannes, maybe the problem is ‘some’ of your ignorant poorly trained security and ushers that need to leave their Karen ism at home,” Fowler wrote on X, detailing the difference of treatment between white attendees and attendees of color.

“Kelly Rowland deserved better,” another social media user quipped.

Read more at The Daily Beast.

OTHER NEWS

24 minutes ago

‘We’re excited’: arthouse hits draw young UK filmgoers to a summer of subtitles

24 minutes ago

Trying to Understand The National Media's Perception Of The Titans

24 minutes ago

Luis Diaz Scores And Assists For Colombia In Chaos Filled Bolivia Friendly

24 minutes ago

Seven Mpox cases confirmed in South Africa

24 minutes ago

SuperSport United and Gavin Hunt agree terms

24 minutes ago

Dubai Police adds Tesla Cybertruck to its fleet

25 minutes ago

Pep Lijnders targets transfer reunion with rising Liverpool star as triple Anfield exit takes shape

25 minutes ago

The role the DA's John Steenhuisen could take in the Government of National Unity

25 minutes ago

Meet England assistant Steve Holland who has been with Gareth Southgate for over a decade

25 minutes ago

U.S. Open 2024: The USGA has several special tributes in store to honor Payne Stewart on Sunday at Pinehurst

25 minutes ago

6 Things To Look Out For If You're Buying A Junkyard Engine

26 minutes ago

Is Slovenia v Denmark on TV? Kick-off time, channel and how to watch Euro 2024 match tonight

29 minutes ago

Heidelberg West death: Tributes for Melbourne man Ali Chaaban after he died in alleged street fight

30 minutes ago

Used EV price crash keeps getting deeper with 'premium' brand idea history

30 minutes ago

Nato in talks to put nuclear weapons on standby

30 minutes ago

Sasquatch Sunset review – brilliant bigfoot oddity is unexpectedly moving

30 minutes ago

Chelsea set transfer conditions after European giants' Euro 2024 striker scouting mission

30 minutes ago

Celtics Collapse Predicted by Charles Barkley in NBA Finals: 'Mavs in 7!'

30 minutes ago

Lauren Hemp explains what Man City will miss most as Lioness Esme Morgan departs

31 minutes ago

LeBron James Sends Message To Wife Savannah During Aces-Liberty

31 minutes ago

Late call-up Can wants Euro glory after Champions League blow

31 minutes ago

View from Red Arrows cockpit shows Trooping the Colour flypast from skies

31 minutes ago

'We have a special bond': British Airways flight attendants save the life of 80-year-old passenger who stopped breathing - and make 'life-long friends' with him and his wife (they even met for lunch in Cape Town)

31 minutes ago

Katie Boulter fights back to beat Emma Raducanu in three sets in a Battle of Britain semi-final... as the Nottingham Open champion keeps her title defence alive

31 minutes ago

Tom Brady 'will be in the booth for the UFL Championship game on Fox' as seven-time Super Bowl winner prepares to start his $375m contract

31 minutes ago

Is it worth upgrading on Cathay Pacific? The Mail pits the carrier's premium economy against business class on flights between London and Hong Kong and there are some shocks (including wine served in a PAPER CUP)

31 minutes ago

Katie Price's no holds barred verdict on ALL of her exes: Model reveals which one 'would love to see her downfall' and who is secretly 'still obsessed with her'

31 minutes ago

Ashley Cain admits he is 'mentally, physically and emotionally battered' during gruelling Ultraman challenge as he opens up about his beautiful co-parenting relationship

31 minutes ago

Chrissy Teigen, Jessica Alba, and Gwen Stefani honor their husbands and dads on Father's Day

31 minutes ago

Canada to continue diplomacy with alleged foreign interference actors: Joly

31 minutes ago

From $40 billion fraud to $4.5 billion settlement: Inside the latest crypto firm paying big bucks to end legal trouble

31 minutes ago

Strong-to-severe thunderstorms possible in Chicago area Sunday

35 minutes ago

San Diego’s Yoga Crackdown Leaves Yogis Bent Out of Shape

35 minutes ago

Six earthquakes hit Southern California in one week. Does that mean ‘The Big One’ is coming?

35 minutes ago

S’pore calls on Russia to cease hostilities and negotiate with Ukraine at Swiss peace summit

35 minutes ago

Beachfront shops at Sentosa, East Coast Park face thinner crowds after oil spill forces beach closures

35 minutes ago

Wes Streeting begs doctors not to strike amid warning Labour NHS plan worse than austerity

36 minutes ago

Wout Weghorst finds perfect timing to reprise his role as Netherlands’ tournament super sub

36 minutes ago

Serbia and England fans throw tables and chairs in brawl ahead of Euro 2024 match

38 minutes ago

From $40 billion fraud to $4.5 billion settlement: Inside the latest crypto firm paying big bucks to end legal trouble