Yoona Faces Controversy Over Alleged Racism at Cannes Film Festival

Girls' Generation's Yoona has been accused of receiving racially discriminatory treatment at the Cannes Film Festival.

On the 26th (local time), Indian daily Hindustan Times and others reported that Yoona was subjected to racial discrimination by a female security guard responsible for the Cannes Film Festival red carpet security.

On the 19th (local time), a female security guard blocking Yoona on the red carpet of the 77th Cannes International Film Festival.
[Photo by X]

According to the report, Yoona was invited as a brand ambassador for the jewelry brand Qeelin to attend the screening of the non-competitive film "Horizon: An American Saga" at the Lumi?re Grand Theatre of the Palais des Festivals during the 77th Cannes International Film Festival on the 19th (local time).

On that day, Yoona tried to pose toward the press cameras on the red carpet, but the female security guard blocked her with her hand and stopped her. Momentarily startled, Yoona calmly waved her hand in a pose, but the security guard again stopped her and gestured for her to enter the venue.

This incident sparked controversy over racial discrimination because it was reported that the security guard only behaved this way toward attendees of color. White actors were not stopped while posing in the same spot.

The media reported, "African American singer Kelly Rowland and Dominican Republic-born actress Masiel Taveras received similar discriminatory treatment," adding, "Although Yoona did not show it outwardly, her expression appeared noticeably uncomfortable" at the time.

In fact, videos capturing the scene were posted online on platforms like X (formerly Twitter). A foreign netizen who uploaded the video stated, "There is a racially discriminatory security guard at Cannes," and added, "She did the same to Kelly Rowland and also to Yoona. I want to ask why she hasn't been fired," raising suspicions.

On X, videos of the female security guard stopping Kelly Rowland and Masiel Taveras were posted one after another. The videos showed Kelly Rowland strongly protesting to the security guard and Masiel Taveras struggling with her. Masiel Taveras herself claimed on her Instagram, "I was racially discriminated against at the Cannes Film Festival," and stated, "The security guard pushed me and used abusive language."

Netizens who watched the videos responded with comments such as, "She crossed the line of security and was truly rude," "It's wrong to only violate the boundaries of people of color," and "If there was a rule that poses were not allowed there, it should have been communicated in advance." Some netizens also expressed opinions like, "The invited actors were given enough time regardless of race," and "It seems to be a misunderstanding that occurred during the process of distinguishing invited actors."