In her legal complaint, the catwalk beauty claims that a female security guard 'brutally restrained' and dragged her at the premiere of 'Marcello Mio' on Tuesday, May 21.
- May 31, 2024
AceShowbiz - Ukrainian model Sawa Pontyjska was among the celebrities who had an unpleasant experience while gracing the red carpet at the 2024 Cannes Film Festival. On Thursday, May 30, it was reported that the model sued event organizers after being assaulted by a female security guard.
In her legal complaint, Pontyjska claimed that the security guard "brutally restrained" at the premiere of "Marcello Mio" on Tuesday, May 21. According to BBC, the catwalk beauty stated that she became scared after the unnamed guard locked her in a "bear hug" while she was at the top of the Palais des Festivals staircase.
"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]," Pontyjska recalled to the news outlet. "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."
The video of the incident went viral on TikTok, accumulating more than 16 million views. In the clip, the female guard could be seen trying to drag Pontyjska inside while having her arms around her. The two exchange words before Pontyjska's knees buckle to the ground. She managed to break before additional security personnel blocked her.
In her lawsuit, Pontyjska is accusing the festival of "physical assault and psychological damage." She is additionally seeking 100,000 euros (roughly $108,300) in damages. Citing the legal complaint, the BBC adds that Pontyjska is alleging that the use of physical force caused her "acute pain" and "psychological trauma."
Prior to the filing, Pontyjska hinted at her legal move in a video posted on TikTok and Instagram on Tuesday, May 28. "I always dreamed into getting of Cannes Film Festival but then I was shocked about rudeness and unreasonable use of physical force which I experienced on the red carpet with other international stars. We are getting ready to file all together," she said.
In addition to Pontyjska, the same female security guard made headlines for having a spat with Kelly Rowland, Dominican actress Massiel Taveras and South Korean star Yoona.
