The 'I Feel Pretty' star reveals she was turned away by an employee at a hotel in the south of France during the Cannes Film Festival last spring because she's black.
- Jul 31, 2019
AceShowbiz - Naomi Campbell is still dealing with racist treatment despite her supermodel status. In a new interview with French magazine Paris Match, the catwalk veteran details her experience of being barred from entering a hotel in the south of France because of her skin color.
Per an English translation of the French interview, the British beauty received such unfair treatment last spring during the Cannes Film Festival. "I was invited to participate in an event in a hotel whose name I will not mention," she tells the publication. "They did not want to let my friend and I in because of the color of my skin."
"The guy at the entrance pretended that the place was full. But he let other people pass," she goes on recounting. Vowing to use her platform to bring justice and to demand equal rights, she states, "It is for these kind of shocking moments that I will continue to express myself and make myself heard."
Naomi previously spoke up about unequal pay she received as a black model during her early career. "I used to have to fight for the same fee as my [white] counterparts doing the same job," she said in an April issue of Vogue Australia.
She added, "It's still not balanced completely," before describing one instance of racism, "I'm the face of a new campaign and I was told that because of the color of my skin a certain country would not use my picture...For me it was a reality check. I never believe in the hype, so it just kept things in perspective for me. Now I would like to know that models [of color] get the same opportunities and fees in advertising."
Naomi has since received support on Twitter. Stylist magazine tweeted, "The fact that a woman as iconic as @NaomiCampbell still experiences such blatant racism speaks volumes on how ingrained it continues to be in society."
Another lamented, "This happens to all of regardless of status,wealth..etc just look at how XENOPHOBIC RACIST British tabloids & some press are treating duchess Meghan. Can't believe that is ALLOWED in 21st century."
