The Cannes Film Festival has been criticized for admitting a pro-Putin influencer and red carpet model.
Victoria Bonya, 42, posted photos of her presence at the event, although organizers restricted Russians’ access to the Kremlin.
A video from Variety shows the arrival of the model, a businesswoman and an influencer lurking on the red carpet unaccompanied.
Bonya, who lives in Monaco, used to enjoy posing in Putin’s swimsuits and T-shirts.
In a recent protest against the West’s reaction to the war, she joined other Russian secular figures in sharing footage of them cutting their Chanel accessories on their social media channels.
Last month, she said: “I have to say, if Chanel House doesn’t respect its customers, [why] should we respect Chanel? Bye Bye.’
She called on the West to “stop hating the Russians”, although it approved of Putin’s war in Ukraine.
Victoria Bonya attends the opening ceremony of the red carpet at the 75th Annual Cannes Film Festival at the Palais des Festivals on May 17, 2022 in Cannes, France
Bonya, who lives in Monaco, previously enjoyed posing in Putin’s swimsuit and T-shirt
Victoria Bonya, 42, posted photos of herself attending the event, despite organizers restricting Russians’ access to the Kremlin
Her appearance at the world-famous film festival – where only a handful of Russian publications were allowed and several anti-Kremlin journalists were blocked – sparked a storm on social media.
Russian show business media Spletnik said: “Twitter users were outraged that a man who publicly supports the president of Russia was on the red carpet.”
A tweet read: “We invite an accomplice to the regime. Hypocrisy, nothing else.
Another said, “Why isn’t she banned as a media supporter of Putin?”
The complainant said: “We do not welcome people who are associated with the Russian government and we are literally releasing it at the opening of the festival.”
Bonya has played many roles in show business, working as a TV presenter and participant in game shows, and has also had acting roles – including one in the past with Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelensky.
She is now seen as a pro-Putin social media influencer, despite living in luxury in the West.
Representative [Cannes] The festival said only “several” Russian media were approved, which corresponded to the “anti-war position of the festival”, but did not give any explanation for Bonya’s presence.
Bonya, meanwhile, accused her critics of “double standards” and stressed that she had briefly appeared in an acting role with Zelenski.
“Why don’t they mark me in the pictures where I’m shooting a movie with Zelensky?” She asked.
Victoria Bonya is seen at the 75th Annual Cannes Film Festival on May 19, 2022 in Cannes, France
In a recent protest against the West’s reaction to the war, she joined other Russian social figures in sharing footage of them cutting their Chanel accessories on their social media channels.
The arrival of the Putin supporter at the festival coincided with the premiere of Mariupol 2, a documentary showing a close-up of life under the bombing of Ukraine.
The documentary debuted in Cannes yesterday with an emotional tribute to the murdered director Mantas Quedaravisius by his fiancée.
“I am honored to present to you the recent work of Mantas. It’s great that the festival honors his legacy and his work as a director and anthropologist, “said Hana Bilobrova, fighting back tears.
The 45-year-old Kvedaravičius was killed in April in Mariupol, where he was filming with Bilobrova, who co-directed the project.
“We were determined to show it,” said festival president Thierry Fremo, noting that the organizers were “very firm” in opposing the war.
Fremo pointed to an anti-war badge on his chest, saying, “I think everyone shares this position except Putin.”
Bonya’s presence in Cannes coincided with the premiere of Mariupol 2, a documentary about life under Russian occupation and the Mariupol bombings. Producer (LR) Nadia Turintsev, co-director Hana Bilobrova and editor Dunya Sichov are pictured in Cannes yesterday
Mariupol is razed to the ground by constant Russian airstrikes and shelling since the start of the war
The war loomed over the festival, which banned official Russian delegations and invited Zelensky to speak at the opening ceremony live from Kyiv.
The documentary shows life in a besieged neighborhood of Mariupol, with constant explosions and shootings that sometimes sound close.
Spectators were taken to a Methodist church, where dozens of people, including the elderly and children, took refuge.
The men are sweeping the ruins of the churchyard and looking for a generator. Seen from the broken windows of bombed-out buildings, the silhouette is lined with pillars of smoke in the evening and dotted with distant fires.
“It’s like a family created by the community,” Bilobrova said after the screening, noting the risks they have to take to gather materials.
“If they’re going to die, they’re trying to do something great for the community.”
Mariupol Mayor Vadim Boychenko said more than 20,000 civilians were believed to have been killed in the city since the Russian invasion began.
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