Kelly Rowland made headlines during the 77th Cannes Film Festival when a viral clip captured her seemingly arguing with a member of security on the red carpet for the premiere of Marcello Mio. Two days later, Rowland addressed the incident during an interview at Cannes’ amfAR gala. She stated, “The woman knows what happened. I know what happened. I have a boundary. And I stand by those boundaries. And that is it.” Rowland also added that there were other women who attended the carpet who did not “quite look like” her and did not get scolded or pushed off the carpet.
The clip showed members of the security staff gesturing to Rowland to move up the stairs as she posed for photos. As she climbed up, more security staff members held their hands out to guide her passage upwards. However, one of them moved closer to Rowland, blocking her view of the spectators, with more following suit. According to a lip-reading expert, Rowland had told the usher, “Don’t talk to me like that. Don’t talk to me like that. You’re not my mother. I told you not to talk to me like that.”
The Cannes Film Festival is known for its strict red carpet policies, with security guards and ushers rushing guests into the theater, barring them from lingering on the carpet. However, it remains to be seen whether the conduct of security staff during Rowland’s incident was routine.
Despite the incident, Rowland remained confident and unbothered, standing her ground and enforcing her boundaries. Her statements have sparked a discussion about the treatment of Black women on red carpets and the potential for race-based profiling. Nevertheless, Rowland continues to shine, remaining strong in the face of adversity and discrimination
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