America Ferrera didn’t realize what was happening at first when a man stuck his head under her dress while she was walking down the red carpet at Cannes Film Festival.
The actress in Dreamworks’ new animated film How to Train Your Dragon 2 was encroached upon by infamous celebrity prankster Vitalii Sediuk, according to the Hollywood Reporter.
Ferrera’s first time at the Cannes Festival, she was nervous to being with and had even read up on how to walk the red carpet.
“I think it’s impossible to not be nervous,” Ferrera said. “I would say this and the Oscars are the two most iconic red carpets in the industry.”
The cast of the animated film walked down the carpet together as their pictures were taken when Sediuk abruptly dove under the skirt of Ferrera’s Georges Hobeika Couture gown, Hollywood Reporter stated.
Sources told THR that Sediuk grabbed both of Ferrera’s ankles before security pried him off and carried him away.
Cate Blanchett, whom Ferrera had met that day, was the first to help push Sediuk away. The 30-year-old actress was thankful for Blanchett’s help as well as her co-stars who immediately checked to make sure she was not hurt.
“They were all so supportive. They all just wanted to make sure I was okay,” Ferrera said.
At the festival’s after party the Ugly Betty actress was smiling and talking about her film which received a standing ovation.
“It’s fine-- I’m over it,” she said when the Hollywood Reporter asked about the incident.
However, Ferrera is not the only celebrity to be harassed by the prankster. According to Today, in 2012, Will Smith slapped Sediuk when he tried to kiss the actor on the lips at a Moscow premiere of Men in Black III.
In 2013, Sediuk crashed the Grammy Awards and interrupted singer Adele’s award acceptance. Not to mention, earlier this year he lunged at and grabbed actors Leonardo DiCaprio and Bradley Cooper, on two separate occasion.
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