"Elitism Is Off The Hook": Vir Das Slams Celebs Upset Over Influencers At Cannes (Image-Instagram/virdas)

The 2025 Cannes Film Festival is currently underway. Once again, a debate has sparked over why social media influencers are descending on the red carpet. Amidst this, actor-comedian Vir Das recently shared his thoughts. The Emmy-winning comedian slammed the film industry’s snobbish attitude towards influencers at the prestigious film festival.

While some notable film personalities accused influencers of stealing the limelight at Cannes, Vir Das hit back at them with a question: “Then why do they (actors) get associated with them (influencers) to promote movies then?”

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The 2025 Cannes Red Carpet witnessed the presence of Indian social media influencers like Shalini Passi, Masoom Minawala, Parul Gulati, Sakshi Sindwani and others. While the red carpet appearance of influencers sparked debate on social media regarding their relevance to cinema and the film festival, Vir Das offered a slamming reply to these questions.

In his recent tweet, he wrote, “Look. I work largely with new, unknown designers. So I get the appeal and eyeballs that a red carpet brings. I also respect the hustle that it takes to get your ass there. It’s not for me, but I can respect the underdog energy.”

While highlighting this attitude of the film industry, Vir Das questioned celebrities collaborating with the same social media influencers for movie promotion. He wrote, “So all that being said….Can I just say…..’Film’ people who are upset with influencers at Cannes need to stop going on their podcasts and doing collabs to promote movies then.”

“The feeling you get seeing them walk down the carpet with you in your domain is the same feeling we get listening to your lame-ass story about how you gave up sugar in their domain,” he pointed out.

Look. I work largely with new unknown designers. So I get the appeal and eyeballs that a red carpet brings. I also respect the hustle that it takes to get your ass there. It’s not for me, but I can respect the underdog energy. So all that being said….Can I just say…..’Film’…

— Vir Das (@thevirdas) May 22, 2025

While appreciating the hard work of social media influencers who made their way to Cannes, he wrote, “Consider the possibility that they may not be as well dressed as you or as good looking as you but are more interesting. Cannot believe I’m defending influencers but the elitism is off the hook.”

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Actress Pallavi Joshi is one among the film personalities who strongly criticised the presence of the social media influencers at Cannes. Calling their presence at Cannes “pointless,” she highlighted that film festivals are a place where films, writers, directors, actors, and technicians are celebrated.

Expressing her opinion, she said, “I don’t mind influencers coming on the same pedestal as actors, but when it comes to film festivals, it is a place where films are celebrated. Hence, the writers, directors, actors, technicians, and all those who put films together have to be celebrated. Cinema is more important here.”