The Cannes conversation took a dramatic turn this year after fans noticed that Aishwarya Rai Bachchan's face was missing from the official L'Oreal Paris festival posters. The Bollywood diva has been one of the most iconic faces for the brand for over two decades. With her absence at Cannes this year, social media quickly erupted with accusations of 'disrespect' and even 'ageism'.
Poster Controversy at Hotel Martinez
This year, when the French beauty label unveiled the posters of its brand ambassadors on the iconic Hotel Martinez in Cannes ahead of the festival, fans saw only Alia Bhatt's face from India, along with other big names. Soon, social media was flooded with only one question: 'Where is Aishwarya Rai Bachchan?' Many Indians still associate Aishwarya with the brand, despite newer names such as Alia Bhatt and Aditi Rao Hydari.
Hotel Martinez, a popular celebrity-favourite address on the French Riviera, unveiled a video featuring big posters of all the L'Oreal Paris ambassadors, including Eva Longoria, Helen Mirren, Alia Bhatt, Viola Davis, and others. Aishwarya, who has been a regular at Cannes for L'Oreal since 2002, was notably absent from the latest promotional material.
Brand's Response to Fan Outcry
When a social media user asked, 'Where is @aishwaryaraibachchan_arb? We only see Aishwarya Rai Bachchan during Cannes. We want to see her more. Her aura is unmatched. Please promote and celebrate her more,' L'Oreal Paris responded by saying, 'Year after year, Cannes after Cannes. She never misses.' In another instance, when an Aishwarya Rai Bachchan fan praised the actor as the official 'Queen of Cannes,' L'Oreal Paris responded, 'Timeless and completely herself. That is Aishwarya Rai.'
If L'Oreal Paris is to be believed, then Aishwarya Rai Bachchan will surely make her red-carpet appearance in time. The reaction, however, does not definitively indicate whether Aishwarya will be present at Cannes this year, but fans interpreted it as a sophisticated effort to quell the controversy. However, the brand needs to understand the aura of Aishwarya, as when it comes to Cannes royalty, one missing poster of the diva is more than enough to start a full-on internet fashion war.
