There’s nothing that screams 2018 feminism more than a bunch of celebrities holding hands on a red carpet. This year’s Cannes festival is the latest opportunity in a long string of awards ceremonies for the rich and famous to gain some brownie points.
If there were an awards ceremony for the most right-on awards ceremony (please no one take me up on that), Cannes might well win. This year’s tote bags contained a flier emblazoned with #NeRienLaisserPasser (or, roughly, don’t let anything happen). ‘Let’s not ruin the party’ it said in French, warning attendees to watch their behaviour. Along with this, there was a new Cannes sexual-harassment hotline, set up with the help of Marlène Schiappa, France’s junior minister for gender equality. The New York Times reported that three women manned the phones until 2am every day. There has so far only been news of one complaint being taken to the police, but Schiappa defended the hotline by saying it was ‘important simply because it exists’.
After guests had a rummage in their bags, and familiarised themselves with French law on sexual harassment over a glass of prosecco, they were treated to a political protest on the red carpet.
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