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“Racism Much?”: Three Strikes For Cannes Security Guard After She Interrupts Korean Actress Yoona
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“Racism Much?”: Three Strikes For Cannes Security Guard After She Interrupts Korean Actress Yoona

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Another bites the Cannes security guard dust. This time, it is Korean actress Lim Yoon-a (better known as Yoona) who was blocked from taking photographs during the Cannes Film Festival’s red carpet event. Accusations of racial bias have since circulated on social media.

Yoona attended the festival’s red carpet event ahead of the screening of Horizon: American Saga on May 19.

Highlights
  • Yoona was blocked from taking photos during the Cannes Film Festival’s red carpet event.
  • The security guard has been involved in multiple incidents with female celebrities, sparking accusations of racial bias.
  • Videos show the guard hurrying Yoona into the venue, despite her attempts to pose for photographs.

However, videos of the K-pop star-turned-actress being interrupted by the now-infamous security guard while trying to pose for the camera during her red-carpet moment spread online.

In videos, the Girls’ Generation member was seen walking up the iconic stairway at the Palais des Festivals et Des Congrès in the South French city.

RELATED:

    Korean actress Lim Yoon-a (better known as Yoona) was blocked from taking photographs during the Cannes Film Festival’s red carpet event.

    Image credits: yoona__lim

    Image credits: yoona__lim

    Despite attempting to pose and waving to the camera, Yoona was seen being interfered with by the female employee, who was filmed stretching her arms out and allegedly hurrying the 33-year-old into the venue. 

    Although Yoona didn’t appear to express anger, her facial expression looked visibly annoyed and uncomfortable as she was rushed off the stairs by the problematic staffer.

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    During the festival, a Ukrainian model was also kicked out by the same guard but was seen fighting with the worker to get back on the stairs, The Daily Mail reported on Monday (May 27).

    The security guard interfering with Yoona sparked accusations of racial bias 

    Image credits: 4lynnie_NY

    Video credits: 4lynnie_NY

    This follows an incident that saw the same security guard at the Cannes Film Festival involved in a verbal tussle with Kelly Rowland last week.

    The Cannes employee had already been under the radar for having an altercation with Dominican actress Massiel Taveras.

    The multiple tussles between the security guard and female celebrities, the majority of whom are women of color, sparked accusations of racial bias.

    Despite attempting to pose, Yoona was seen being interfered with by the female employee, who was filmed stretching her arms out

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    Image credits: arphroditeyoong

    Image credits: arphroditeyoong

    “This security guard at @cannes film fest should be fired and an apology should be issued to @KELLYROWLAND and other actresses of color that she insulted and assaulted,” a person wrote on X (formerly known as Twitter). “If that doesn’t happen our white actress allies should refuse to walk their red carpet.”

    Another X user commented: “What’s the problem with this person? Racism much?”

    @arphroditeyoong #yoona #beyoongsbirthday #cannes2024 #taeyeon #snsd #girlsgeneration #yoonaxqeelin #qeelin #koreandrama #layzhang #snsd #exo #junghaein #kdrama #kpop #kpopfyp #kdramafyp #fyp #xbcyza ♬ miss korea – ana

    The same security guard at the Cannes Film Festival was involved in a verbal tussle with Kelly Rowland

    Image credits: melle_cess

    @melle_cess All rights reserved. Send mp for info #kellyrowland #film #redcarpet #cannes #fif2024 #celebrity #fy #Festival #securityguard #security #festivaldecannes #destinyschild #originalvideo #security #securité #incident #celebs #singer #destinyschild ♬ Motivation – Kelly Rowland


    “This same Security guard rushed #Kdrama & #Kpop star #YoonA out of the red carpet who was seen pushing Kelly Rowland earlier.”

    Colleagues of the security guard at the center of the Cannes spotlight insisted to The Daily Mail that she was acting appropriately and was “only doing her job.”

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    The source told the British tabloid: “She was an usher working under a lot of pressure to keep people on the carpet moving, so as to stop crowds building up.

    The Cannes employee had already been under the radar for having an altercation with Dominican actress Massiel Taveras

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    Image credits: louistanca

    @louistanca La robe Jésus de l’actrice Massiel Taveras au Festival de Cannes. #cannes2024 #festivaldecannes2024 #festivaldecannes #massieltaveras #jesuschrist #cannesfilmfestival ♬ son original – Louis


    “There was no pushing or shoving, or scolding.

    “Security and safety are the priorities, along with keeping to strict timetables set according to contracts – even the celebrities have to stick to the rules.

    “Lots of ushers are involved, and they always act professionally and with politeness.”

    “In this case, the usher was certainly only doing her job – she didn’t do anything wrong.”

    The usher has not been publicly identified, but she is known to be a local Frenchwoman on a short-term contract with the week-long Festival, The Daily Mail reported.

    The insider added: “Suggestions of racism are just ridiculous – visitors, and indeed staff at Cannes come from all kinds of backgrounds, and none are discriminated against.”

    Bored Panda has contacted the Cannes Film Festival for comment.

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    “Utter disgrace,” a reader exclaimed

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    Andréa Oldereide

    Andréa Oldereide

    Writer, BoredPanda staff

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    I’m a journalist who works as Bored Panda’s News Team's Senior Writer. The news team produces stories focused on pop culture. Whenever I get the opportunity and the time, I investigate and produce my own exclusive stories, where I get to explore a wider range of topics. Some examples include: “Doberman Tobias the viral medical service dog” and “The lawyer who brought rare uterine cancer that affects 9/11 victims to light”. You've got a tip? email me: andrea.o@boredpanda.com

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    Andréa Oldereide

    Andréa Oldereide

    Writer, BoredPanda staff

    I’m a journalist who works as Bored Panda’s News Team's Senior Writer. The news team produces stories focused on pop culture. Whenever I get the opportunity and the time, I investigate and produce my own exclusive stories, where I get to explore a wider range of topics. Some examples include: “Doberman Tobias the viral medical service dog” and “The lawyer who brought rare uterine cancer that affects 9/11 victims to light”. You've got a tip? email me: andrea.o@boredpanda.com

    Karina Babenok

    Karina Babenok

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    As a visual editor in the News team, I look for the most interesting pictures and comments to make each post interesting and informative through images, so that you aren't reading only blocks of text. I joined Bored Panda not that long ago, but in this short amount of time I have covered a wide range of topics: from true crime to Taylor Swift memes (my search history is very questionable because of that).In my freetime, I enjoy spending time at the gym, gaming, binging Great British Bake Off and adding yet another tattoo artist that I would love to get a tattoo from to my pinterest board.

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    Karina Babenok

    Karina Babenok

    Author, BoredPanda staff

    As a visual editor in the News team, I look for the most interesting pictures and comments to make each post interesting and informative through images, so that you aren't reading only blocks of text. I joined Bored Panda not that long ago, but in this short amount of time I have covered a wide range of topics: from true crime to Taylor Swift memes (my search history is very questionable because of that).In my freetime, I enjoy spending time at the gym, gaming, binging Great British Bake Off and adding yet another tattoo artist that I would love to get a tattoo from to my pinterest board.

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    William Teach
    Community Member
    7 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    In other words, the security guard has been doing her job in stopping low level celebs from performing on the red carpet. Hence why she has not been fired.

    Pittsburgh rare
    Community Member
    7 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    The rules are clear, l think. No photos on the stairs. She goes one step further to make sure such photos are ruined by putting her arm in the way. I don't know if this has happened with white actors so l can't throw judgement on whether there is racial motivation. I honestly think not

    General Anaesthesia
    Community Member
    7 months ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    I agree. No photos on the stairs, backing others up on the stairs, risk of tripping and falling in those long dresses, whatever. Note the guard has her arm behind the "star's" back, no touching, while she climbs the stairs. These people are professionals. Rules, and maybe even terrorism guidelines, apply to entitled "do you know who I am, rules don't apply to me" content makers, too.

    Load More Replies...
    similarly
    Community Member
    7 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    I'm curious how this is racial bias if the Ukranian model was treated in the exact same way?

    Load More Comments
    William Teach
    Community Member
    7 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    In other words, the security guard has been doing her job in stopping low level celebs from performing on the red carpet. Hence why she has not been fired.

    Pittsburgh rare
    Community Member
    7 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    The rules are clear, l think. No photos on the stairs. She goes one step further to make sure such photos are ruined by putting her arm in the way. I don't know if this has happened with white actors so l can't throw judgement on whether there is racial motivation. I honestly think not

    General Anaesthesia
    Community Member
    7 months ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    I agree. No photos on the stairs, backing others up on the stairs, risk of tripping and falling in those long dresses, whatever. Note the guard has her arm behind the "star's" back, no touching, while she climbs the stairs. These people are professionals. Rules, and maybe even terrorism guidelines, apply to entitled "do you know who I am, rules don't apply to me" content makers, too.

    Load More Replies...
    similarly
    Community Member
    7 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    I'm curious how this is racial bias if the Ukranian model was treated in the exact same way?

    Load More Comments
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