At the Cannes Film Festival, Kelly Rowland had a bit of a run-in with a security guard this week. She looked stunning on the red carpet, chatting with fans, when a guard suddenly rushed her inside. Kelly wasn’t having it and firmly told the guard not to touch her, reminding her that she was not a child. Meanwhile, Heidi Klum breezed through without any security, adding to the contrast.
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Even BeyoncĂ©’s publicist, Yvette Noel-Schure, pointed out the difference on Instagram, showing Klum’s relaxed stroll compared to Rowland’s interrupted moment.
Rowland later spoke about the incident, saying she understood the guard had a job to do but she also stood her ground. She noticed that other women, who didn’t look like her, weren’t treated the same way.
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This incident sheds light on a bigger issue of unequal treatment on the red carpet. If white women weren’t rushed off like Rowland, then she deserves the same respect. She’s a big star, part of Destiny’s Child! After speaking with the Associated Press, Rowland returned to the carpet without any more interruptions, giving us some gorgeous photos to admire.
If there was a timing issue or urgency, there are better ways to handle it. In my experience as a reporter at many events, talent is usually given their moment and if they need to move, it’s done discreetly through their publicist. Experienced security personnel should know how to treat talent with respect.
Let this be a lesson for future events — be mindful of how you treat people, especially celebrities, and avoid using physical force. On the bright side, we got some good memes and stunning pictures of Kelly Rowland out of it!
