A female bodyguard stops YoonA (Im Yoon-ah) on the red carpet at the 77th Cannes Film Festival on May 19 (local time). (A screenshot image of X channel)
PARIS/SEOUL, May 28 (Korea Bizwire) – The K-pop singer and actress Yoona, who attended the Cannes Film Festival this month, has become embroiled in allegations of discriminatory behavior by a female security guard monitoring the red carpet.
On May 19, Yoona, formerly of the hugely popular K-pop group Girls’ Generation, drew the spotlight at the 77th Cannes festival in a pink gown. But video circulating online showed a female guard blocking Yoona from posing for photographers, reigniting accusations that the Cannes team had displayed bias against celebrities of color.
In the clip, as Yoona waves to cameras, the female guard uses her arm to usher the Korean star inward, curtailing her moment on the high-profile red carpet.
The Hindustan Times reported on May 26 that the guard had faced intense criticism for apparently discriminating against Yoona after earlier incidents involving the American singer Kelley Rowland and Dominican actress Massiel Taveras.
“While Yoona didn’t show her displeasure outwardly, her expression showed she was uncomfortable,” the Indian newspaper stated. “She quietly went inside without reacting.”
Videos showed the same female guard did not rush white actors and filmmakers in the same manner, allowing them to linger for photographs. But for Rowland, Taveras and Yoona, the guard persistently gestured for them to enter, even physically obstructing the frame as they posed.
Rowland could be seen warning the guard about making bodily contact, while Taveras shoved the guard’s shoulder in an apparent show of frustration.
Online, viewers decried the differential treatment as blatantly discriminatory.
“So disrespectful,” one commenter wrote, while another asked, “Why do they keep using this security guard when it’s happened multiple times?”
“It’s ridiculous how she only blocks people of color,” another remarked. “She really lets the white actors do whatever they want.”
Lina Jang (linajang@koreabizwire.com)
