The former Destiny's Child singer is not sorry for 'standing her ground' against the security at Cannes Film Festival, suggesting the guard was disrespectful towards her.
- May 24, 2024
AceShowbiz - Earlier this week, Kelly Rowland made headlines after a tense exchange with a security guard at the Cannes Film Festival premiere of the French-Italian film Marcello Mio on May 21. The 43-year-old singer was seen ascending the red carpet steps, smiling at the crowd before the incident occurred.
According to footage circulating online, a female security guard was seen rushing Rowland off the red carpet, seemingly stepping on her dress in the process. This action prompted a visibly upset Rowland to confront the guard, pointing her finger and scolding her.
Kelly Rowland addressed the incident while speaking with the press at the amfAR Cinema Against AIDS gala at Cannes. She commented, "The woman knows what happened. I know what happened. And, I have a boundary. And I stand by those boundaries and that is it."
The singer added, "There were other women who attended that carpet, who did not quite look like me, and they didn't get scolded or pushed off or told to get off. And, I stood my ground and she felt like she had to stand hers. But I stood my ground."
The internet was quick to rally behind Rowland. Social media platforms were abuzz with support, with one user on X (formerly Twitter) stating, "Do you understand how out of pocket you have to be for Kelly Rowland to have to check you?! Literally, one of the sweetest people in the world, but don't get it twisted."
Another added, "What we're not going to do is try and paint THE Kelly Rowland as problematic and disrespectful. You NEVER heard ANYTHING about her in decades of Kelly being in this business. If she's checking you, YOU'RE the damn problem!"
The confrontation was not just about the physical boundaries but also an issue of respect and equal treatment. Speaking with the Associated Press, Rowland stood by her actions, reiterating, "I have a boundary and I stand by those boundaries and that is it. There were other women that attended that carpet who did not quite look like me and they didn't get scolded or pushed off or told to get off."
This incident comes on the heels of another publicized moment in February, where Rowland walked off the "Today" show due to unsatisfactory dressing room conditions and speculative tensions regarding questions about Beyonce Knowles' album during her own film promotion.
At Cannes, the red carpet security is known to be strict, aiming to maintain a tight schedule for multiple screenings. A notable policy is the ban on selfies, introduced in 2018, to prevent delays before screenings. Despite this, Rowland's encounter has sparked a broader discussion on boundaries, respect, and equitable treatment on such high-profile platforms.
