Friday 20 May 2022 09:07 AM Fury as Putin swimsuit-wearing Russian model is allowed on the Cannes red carpet trends now
The Cannes Film Festival has been slammed for allowing pro-Putin influencer and model onto the red carpet.
Victoria Bonya, 42, posted pictures snapped of her attending the event, despite organisers restricting access to Russians with Kremlin links.
A video from Variety shows the arrival of the model, businesswoman and influencer, who stalking along the red carpet unaccompanied.
Bonya - who lives in Monaco - has previously happily posed in a Putin swimsuit and T-shirts.
In one recent protest against the West's reaction to the war, she joined other Russian socialites in sharing footage of themselves cutting up their Chanel accessories across their social media channels.
She said last month: 'I have to say if Chanel House does not respect its clients, [why] do we have to respect Chanel? Bye bye.'
She urged the West to 'stop hating Russians', despite endorsing Putin's war in Ukraine.
Victoria Bonya attends the opening ceremony red carpet for the 75th annual Cannes film festival at Palais des Festivals on May 17, 2022 in Cannes, France
Bonya - who lives in Monaco - has previously happily posed in a Putin swimsuit and T-shirts
Victoria Bonya, 42, posted pictures snapped of her attending the event, despite organisers restricting access to Russians with Kremlin links
Her appearance at the world-renowned film festival - where only a handful of Russian outlets were allowed and several anti-Kremlin journalists were blocked - triggered a social media storm.
Russian showbiz media outlet Spletnik said: 'Twitter users were outraged that a person who publicly supports the president of Russia was on the red carpet.'
One Tweet read: 'We invite the regime's accomplice. Hypocrisy, nothing else.'
Another said: 'Why is she not banned as a Putin media supporter?'
A complainant said: 'We are not welcoming people who are tied with Russian government, and literally let her to the festival opening.'
Bonya has occupied many roles in showbiz, working as a TV presenter and game show participant, and also had acting parts - including one in the past with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.
She is now seen as a social media influencer with a pro-Putin edge despite living in luxury in the West.
A representative of the [Cannes] festival said
