Security vs Celebrity: Fashion faces off against red carpet rules at Cannes 2025

Each year, the Cannes Film Festival dazzles with cinematic brilliance and high fashion. But in 2025, the red carpet has become more than just a photo-op—it’s a battleground between bold sartorial choices and increasingly rigid protocol.

This week, actress Halle Berry became the latest headline when she was forced to swap out an elaborate Gaurav Gupta gown at the last minute—not due to a fashion mishap, but because of newly enforced festival rules banning nudity and gowns with exaggerated trains. “I’m not going to break the rules,” Berry said, acknowledging the updated red carpet dress code that’s causing ripples through the fashion world.

Viral Flashpoints: When Fashion Meets Friction

This rising tension between style and structure isn’t new, but it reached a fever pitch in 2024. Dominican actor Massiel Taveras found herself at the center of a social media firestorm when security personnel mishandled her dramatic gown—adorned with a large train and a portrait of Jesus—as she ascended the steps. A female guard’s physical attempt to move Taveras along, including placing an arm across her chest, was met with online outrage for being overly aggressive.

Just 24 hours earlier, singer Kelly Rowland had a similar clash with the same security guard, visibly reprimanding her after the guard stepped on her gown and cut short her photo moment.

The Era of Statement Fashion

These confrontations reflect the shifting landscape of red carpet fashion. Much like the Met Gala, Cannes has become a global runway for experimental couture—featuring “naked” dresses, artistic silhouettes, dramatic trains, and oversized headpieces that require space and patience.

For many designers, the Cannes red carpet is a showcase of avant-garde craftsmanship. Outfits are often engineered for visual impact, social media virality, and symbolic messaging.

Cannes Tightens the Rules

After last year’s viral controversies, the festival introduced new guidelines in 2025 banning outfits deemed “too revealing” or “voluminous.” The goal, according to organizers, is to avoid delays and maintain decorum—not to restrict creativity.

Berry acknowledged the policy, saying the restriction on nudity was “probably a good rule,” but her change of attire nonetheless underscores a growing unease: Where is the line between order and overreach?

When Protocol Feels Personal

At the heart of the debate lies a difficult question: Are security personnel doing their jobs, or are they overstepping? In an age of real-time social media judgment, even well-meaning interventions can backfire—especially when they involve unwanted physical contact with celebrities, often women.

Experts argue that while security teams are tasked with crowd control, their methods must evolve with the times. Better training in etiquette and celebrity handling could prevent uncomfortable scenes from playing out in front of global audiences.

A Tightrope Walk Between Tradition and Expression

Cannes now finds itself navigating a fine line: preserving tradition and security without stifling the artistic energy that draws so many eyes to the red carpet.

To avoid future PR missteps, the festival will need to refine its balance between enforcement and empathy—recognizing that for many stars, fashion is not just decoration, but a declaration.

In a world where red carpet moments can spark global conversations in seconds, the stakes are higher than ever. And Cannes, more than ever, is under the spotlight—not just for its films, but for how it handles the theatre of fashion.