A new lawsuit claims that Ukrainian model Sawa Pontyska was “brutally detained” by security guards as she walked the red carpet and tried to enter a theater at this year’s Cannes Film Festival.
In an interview BBC NewsMs Pontisca, who was attending the star-studded event as a presenter for Fashion TV, said she had filed a lawsuit against Cannes organisers over the alleged assault at the “Marcello Mio” premiere.
Ms Pontisca claimed that the female security guard, who also clashed with Kelly Rowland and Maciel Taveras, trapped her in a “bear hug” at the top of the stairs at the Palais des Festivals.
“I was trying to get away from this lock. I got off and started running down the stairs because that was the way back. [out]” she told the media outlet.
“She was trying to push me[side]so that no one could see what she was doing to me. And she threw me out the back door.”
Footage of a heated exchange between Pontiska and staff went viral. On TikTokwhich racked up millions of views.
The video shows a female security guard grabbing the model’s arm and attempting to drag her inside, before the pair exchange words on the largely deserted red carpet.
Ms Pontiska then crouched near the ground to try to escape the usher but was confronted by three men, one of whom grabbed her around the waist.
According to the media, Pontiska is suing the festival for “physical assault and emotional harm” and is seeking more than $108,000 in damages.
In her lawsuit, Pontiska claims the staff’s physical abuse caused her “severe pain” and “psychological trauma.”
“I’ve always dreamed of attending the Cannes Film Festival,” says Pontiska. he said on Instagram on Wednesday.“But I was shocked. [the] The disrespect and unwarranted physical violence I experienced on the red carpet alongside other international stars.”
“[Cannes] Authorized security personnel to use physical force against guests on the red carpet.”
Page Six has reached out to the Cannes Film Festival for comment.
The staff member, whose name has not been revealed, has previously been in the headlines for chasing Kelly Rowland and Maciel Taveras off the red carpet, and for clashing with K-pop star Yuna.
The same thing happened to Rowland earlier this month, when the former Destiny’s Child member made headlines after berating an usher before the premiere of “Marcello Mio.”
The 43-year-old singer tearfully told The Associated Press as she recalled the exchange: “That woman knows what happened. I know what happened. I have boundaries and I will stick to those boundaries.”
“There were women on that carpet who didn’t look like me, and they weren’t scolded or pushed or told to get off,” she added.
Dominican actress Maciel Taveras had a similar experience with the same woman, who was caught on camera shoving her.
There has been no official statement from the festival about the ongoing controversy, but the unidentified staff member has been defended by one of his colleagues. Via Daily Mail.
“She was an usher and was working under a lot of pressure to keep people moving on the carpet to prevent overcrowding,” an anonymous colleague told the outlet.
“There was no pushing, scuffles or scolding. Security and safety come first and we have to stick to a strict schedule set out in our contract. Even celebrities have to abide by the rules.”
