Kelly Rowland's Cannes Film Festival Scuffle Is Reminding Fans of Her 'Today' Show Walkout

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Kelly Rowland’s red-carpet moment at the 2024 Cannes Film Festival may not have ended the way she wanted. It appears that she got into an altercation with a security guard who was trying to usher her up the grand staircase at the Palais.

The former Destiny’s Child star looked gorgeous with a vivid red gown that hugged her gorgeous curves. She paired it with a stunning diamond choker and drop earrings for extra sparkle — she looked incredible! Understandably, she wanted her moment on one of the fanciest red carpets of the year, but the festival is also known for running a tight ship, which means that the screenings start on time. Things seemed to get heated when a female usher put her hand behind the 43-year-old star’s back, trying to guide her up the stairs.

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CANNES, FRANCE - MAY 21: (EDITORS NOTE: This image has been created using a starburst filter.) Kelly Rowland attends the "Marcello Mio" Red Carpet at the 77th annual Cannes Film Festival at Palais des Festivals on May 21, 2024 in Cannes, France. (Photo by Gareth Cattermole/Getty Images)
CANNES, FRANCE – MAY 21: Kelly Rowland attends the “Marcello Mio” Red Carpet at the 77th annual Cannes Film Festival at Palais des Festivals on May 21, 2024 in Cannes, France.

It worked initially, but when the guard kept putting her arm up, without touching Rowland, but the actress seemed frustrated by the consistent reminder to keep moving. (And the arm motion was pretty aggressive from the video seen HERE.) The Daily Mail‘s lip-reading expert, Jacqui Press, claimed that Rowland snapped at the usher and pointed her finger, “Don’t talk to me like that.” The row seemed to escalate as a male usher stepped in and Rowland doubled down with, “You still don’t talk to me like that.”

Rowland hasn’t commented publicly about the incident, but the unsettling moment is reminding fans of her last-minute walkout on the set of the Today show. She was supposed to co-host the fourth hour of Today With Hoda & Jenna, but she exited over issues she had with the show. One theory was that she didn’t like the available dressing room to get ready because it didn’t fit her entire glam squad. The other reason, shared by The Wrap, was that Rowland is tired of answering questions about Beyoncé — it was supposed to be a strictly off-limit topic that Savannah Guthrie ignored.

So, it seems like Rowland is being misunderstood, and her fans have got her back. “The fact that thee Kelly Rowland & Co has had to get people together multiple times recently for treating her less than the LEGEND she is really pisses me off,” wrote one supportive follower on X. Another account added, “People will STOP treating Kelly Rowland like some second-hand, and B list celebrity.” As a source told the Daily Mail, Rowland “set a clear boundary” by “advocating for herself” in a situation that looked extremely uncomfortable — nobody wants their personal space crossed.

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