Iranian model wears noose at Cannes to protest against executions; other times celebs used red carpet to make a statement

 

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“We wanted to make a fashion statement to observe the glamour of Cannes, but more importantly, to bring media attention to the wrongful executions of Iranian people. Unfortunately, political statements are not allowed at the film festival and the security stopped me from showing the back of my dress, but the ‘noose’ meaning as well,” she wrote on Instagram.

This, however, wasn’t the only such instance at Cannes 2023. The red carpet also witnessed a woman dressed in Ukrainian colours staging a protest against the Russian invasion of her home country. She donned the colours of the Ukrainian flag – blue and yellow — and poured fake blood on herself on the red carpet steps.

 

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“On the red carpet of the 76th Cannes Film Festival, I came out in a dress in the colours of our flag and poured red paint on myself. I used my chance and with this act, I reminded what is happening in Ukraine!” she wrote.

Ever since the Russian invasion of the east-European countries, several global celebrities and leaders have expressed their support for Ukraine with their fashion choices. During US President Joe Biden’s first State of the Union address, first lady Jill Biden wore a blue long-sleeve dress, giving a nod to the Ukrainian flag. There was also a subtle addition on the right cuff — it was a small embroidered sunflower, which is the national flower of Ukraine.

 

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At the 28th edition of the Screen Actors Guild (SAG) Awards last year, several celebrities including Tyler Perry, Michael Douglas and Jon Bernthal among others expressed solidarity with Ukraine with their accessories, using the red carpet as a stage to amplify their voices.

Tyler Perry and Shari Belafonte at the SAG Awards 2022. (Source: Reuters)

The Met Gala, the biggest fashion extravaganza, has also witnessed celebrities making strong political statements. At the 2021 edition, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez made her debut wearing a “tax the rich” outfit. She accessorised with a purse which also read “Tax the rich”.

 

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The same year, Dan Levy’s couture was a powerful statement on the LGBTQ community. He arrived in a colourful, JW Anderson and Loewe attire that featured dramatic puffed-up sleeves. “With support from the estate of American multimedia artist and LGBTQIA+ activist, David Wojnarovicz (1954-1992), Jonathan and the design team built upon an image of two men kissing from Wojnarovicz’s work, F*ck You Faggot F*cker, named after a homophobic cartoon the artist had come across. But rather than feed on the message of hate, we wanted to celebrate queer love and visibility – acknowledging how hard artists like Wojnarovicz had to fight, while also presenting the imagery in a way that offered a hopeful message,” he wrote.

Dan Levy. (Photo: REUTERS/Mario Anzuoni)

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