Cannes ‘turns away amputee’ on red carpet for not wearing high heels

Once small step in heels…one giant step backwards for equality? The Cannes Film Festival is already under fire for reportedly turning away women who aren’t wearing high heels from films. And now, another report has surfaced that makes the archaic wardrobe requirement seem even worse. A Danish film producer and scriptwriter, who has her big toe and part of her left foot amputated, told the Telegraph she was stopped multiple time by festival officials at the “Sea of Trees” premiere last week.

It is ridiculous. We are all working women who walk up and down the streets of Cannes all day doing business. They cannot force us to wear heels. We put on the dress and make an effort to be formal and festive, but to demand heels is not right.

Valeria Richter, who has been coming to the festival since 1998

This is just the latest revelation in the high heels on the red carpet saga – an especially awkward-timed debacle as this year’s festival has been proclaimed the year of “la femme” in Cannes. Major actresses, actors and producers have expressed their outrage over the requirement to wear heels. Canadian director Denis Villeneuve joked that him and Benicio Del Toro would wear heels for their premiere in protest – although that didn’t come to fruition. British actress Emily Blunt, who appears alongside Benicio Del Tori in “Siciro” has said the policy is “very disappointing” and told reporters she didn’t believe there could be such a rule in 2015.

You kind of thought there were waves of people realizing that women are just as fascinating and interesting to watch, and just as bankable as men. Everyone should wear flats, to be honest.

Emily Blunt

Entertainment Cannes