Cannes Film Festival is one of the most prestigious and widely recognized film festivals in the world, and because of that, being invited should be a dream for pretty much everyone in the entertainment industry.
Sawa Pontyjska is an Ukrainian model, Miss Europe 2023 winner, and she was more than happy to be there.
But things quickly went south.
Pontyjska, who attended the Cannes Film Festival as one of the guests, was 'assaulted' by the security.
"I had always dreamed of getting into the Cannes Film Festival," she said. "But then I was shocked about the rudeness and unreasonable use of force I experienced on the red carpet."
In an interview, Pontjyska said she had not done anything wrong, but during the altercation, she was "violently kicked."
"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]," she said.
"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."
Because of what she described as the aggressive force used against her on the red carpet by the festival’s security, the model is willing to file a lawsuit against "the organizers of the Cannes Film Festival."
And to do so, she launched her search for a lawyer on social media.
In a post on Instagram, Pontyjska said that she was seeking a "serious" lawyer to take the festival organizers to court over "unreasonable physical force" she received from the security.
Her legal complaint said that she was "violently challenged by one of a group of security guards" in front of "thousands of people."
Pontyjska, who works as a presenter for FashionTV, alleges that she was "brutally" restrained as she attempted to enter the cinema with a legitimate ticket for the premiere of Marcello Mio.
She described the incident as a "bear hug" and expressed feeling scared during the encounter.
In all, due to the "physical assault and psychological damage," and because her reputation had been harmed, Pontyjska is seeking €100,000 in damages.
In addition to Pontyjska, singer Kelly Rowland also had a heated exchange with the same security guard at the prestigious French event.
The model's complaint is supported by footage showing the guard challenging several guests, including South Korean actress Yoona and Dominican actress Massiel Taveras.
The incident involving Pontyjska and the security guard has gained significant attention, with a video of the altercation being viewed over millions of times on social media.
Sawa Pontyjska, an Ukrainian model, has been involved in various modeling projects, including runway shows, fashion campaigns, and magazine features.
Known for her distinctive look and professional work, she has made a name for herself in both the Ukrainian and international modeling scenes.
In her social media video, Pontyjska is also banding together with other red-carpet victims who were mistreated to launch the case.
The model's decision to file a legal complaint against the Cannes Film Festival organisers reflects her determination to seek justice for the alleged mistreatment she experienced. By taking legal action and speaking out about her ordeal, Pontyjska is shedding light on an issue that deserves attention and resolution.
The incident has sparked widespread discussion and raised important questions about the treatment of guests at high-profile events.
It serves as a reminder of the significance of ensuring the safety and respect of all individuals, regardless of their status or occupation.
It's worth noting that security personnel at Cannes Film Festival aren't only hired to secure the location and the attendees, but to also ensure that people get going.
Again, Cannes Film Festival is one of the most prestigious and widely recognized film festivals in the world, and in many times, attendees spend more time on the red carpet than they need to.
This can create a jam, and make things out of hands.
This is where the security personnel can also play their part, in which they tend to rush these celebrities down the carpet, and up the stairs.
