Kelly Rowland Speaks Out on Blatant Racism and Boundary Overstepping at Cannes

By Javar Juarez

Friday May 24th, 2024

Columbia, S.C. (CUBN)- When people show you who they are, we need to believe them. For those who think racism is a thing of the past and that black people, especially black women, can move about the world freely, the recent incident with Kelly Rowland in Cannes is a stark reminder that this is not the case. Racism is a global issue, perpetuated by attitudes learned from places like the United States. 

The U.S. continues to teach the world that it is acceptable to mistreat black women, even while benefiting from their talents, abilities, style, and influence. This ongoing jealousy and disrespect are issues we must confront head-on. It is imperative that we stand up for black women, as their treatment reflects on the survival and respect of our entire community. History shows that black women are valuable and need to be treated as such. Kelly Rowland's experience at Cannes highlights this reality.

Kelly Rowland has broken her silence on the incident at Cannes, where she appeared to scold a security guard while walking the red carpet. The 43-year-old singer stated that she was just standing her ground and noted that other women who did not look like her were treated differently.

"The woman knows what happened. I know what happened," she said. "I have a boundary. And I stand by those boundaries, and that is it."

Kelly was attending the premiere of the French film "Marcello Mio," wearing a red flowing gown, when the altercation occurred. As a female security guard held up her arm to guide her into the venue, Kelly appeared furious and admonished her in front of the crowd. A lip-reading expert revealed that Kelly initially said "It's OK" when the guard stepped on her dress and apologized. However, when the guard continued to speak, Kelly's mood changed, and she responded, "Don't talk to me like that," repeating the phrase several times as she ascended the stairs.

Witnesses claim that the incident arose because the staff members were being aggressive, and Kelly had reached her limit. Despite this, she displayed grace and good behavior, continuing to wave to fans and helping the paparazzi get their shots. Her reaction was justified; she set a clear boundary to advocate for herself, regardless of how she might be perceived.

Black social media has rallied to her defense, highlighting the ongoing need for solidarity and support within the community. This incident follows Kelly's walkout from the "Today" show in February, which was reportedly due to disrespect shown to her by co-host Savannah Guthrie, who aggressively questioned her about Beyoncé instead of her new film "Mea Culpa."

Hoda Kotb and Savannah Guthrie Credit: Getty

These incidents underscore the constant need for black women to defend themselves while being disrespected. This cycle must stop. It is up to us to show solidarity with our dollars and support, backing our own like Kelly Rowland. As more black people stand together against racism and imperialism, this is a time of rising for black women and our community as a whole. Period.

#kellyrowland #CannesFilmFestival #France #racism #WhitePeopleAreGhetto 

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