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June 3, 2024
Fashion TV Presenter Sues Cannes Film Festival After Security Guard Allegedly ‘Brutally Restrained’ and Dragged Her
A Ukrainian model and Fashion TV presenter, Sawa Pontyjska has filed a legal complaint against organisers of the Cannes Film Festival after alleging she was assaulted by a security guard on the red carpet. By: K Dass.
Cannes - Sawa Pontyjska appeared to be trying to pose for
pictures at the top of the red-carpeted steps into the convention center on May
21 when the guard grabbed her, wrapping her arms around the model and pushing
her away from the entrance. Pontyjska, looking confused, stumbled and squatted
down on her heels before breaking free from the guard and moving away.
Pontyjska posted
pictures of documents accusing the festival of "physical assault and
psychological damage". She said her reputation had also been harmed and is
seeking 100,000 euros in damages.
Pontyjska claims that
she became scared after the unnamed guard locked her in a "bear hug"
while she was at the top of the Palais des Festivals staircase, attempting to
enter the event.
"I was trying to
escape from this lock. I went down, and I started to run away on the stairs
because it was the way back [out]," Pontyjska told the outlet. "She
was trying to push me in[side], so nobody can see what she's doing with me. Then
she kicked me out through the back door."
A clip of the
confrontation shared by Pontyjska on TikTok has accumulated more than 16
million views. The video appears to show the female guard attempting to drag
Pontyjska inside while having her arms around her. As the two exchange words,
Pontyjska's knees buckle to the ground, and she quickly gets up and breaks free
before being confronted by additional security personnel.
Singer Kelly Rowland
also complained, while footage of the guard with South Korean actress Yoona and
Dominican actress Massiel Taveras also went viral.
Cannes red carpet
event is known for having strict rules for guests on the red carpet and
attendees are always rushed down the carpet and up the stairs.
