Model Sawa Pontyjska sues over Cannes red carpet ‘assault’

The unnamed guard made headlines during the two-week festival, including for a heated exchange when she tried to usher Rowland up the stairs at the same premiere.

The former Destiny’s Child singer later told the Associated Press: “The woman knows what happened. I know what happened. I have a boundary, and I stand by those boundaries and that is it.”

She continued: “There were other women that attended that carpet who did not quite look like me and they didn’t get scolded or pushed or told to get off. I stood my ground, and she felt like she had to stand hers.”

Taveras appeared to push the guard after repeatedly being hurried up the red carpet, while the same security worker was accused by Yoona’s fans of being overbearing as she ushered the South Korean star inside.

Cannes is known for having strict rules for guests on the red carpet.

Writing in the wake of last week’s events, the Hollywood Reporter’s Chris Gardner said, external most attendees are “always rushed down the carpet and up the stairs”.

He added: “For the most part, the job of security is to keep the flow of traffic moving and get everyone in their seats by the scheduled start time.”

More leeway is given to actors from the films being premiered, members of the jury, celebrities representing the festival’s sponsors, other major A-listers, or beloved festival veterans, he wrote.