Aishwarya Rai Bachchan's fans slam L'Oreal for missing the actress from their campaign poster ahead of Cannes 2026.
The 79th Festival de Cannes kicked off on May 12, 2026, and social media is already thrilled to take a look at one of the best versions of celebrities this year. However, before the official ceremony, a new fiasco has taken over the internet. L’Oréal Paris is celebrating its 29th consecutive year as the official beauty partner of the Cannes festival. The brand is currently being bashed because of its latest ad campaign.
Recently, L’Oréal Paris’ Instagram account posted a video showing large promotional posters being unfurled at Hotel Martinez in Cannes. The clip featured posters of Alia Bhatt, Viola Davis, Eva Longoria, and Helen Mirren, among others. The caption to the campaign can be read as, “And… action! The most iconic facade in Cannes is getting its festival look.”
However, amid the posters of various celebs, Aishwarya Rai’s absence sparked a controversy among her fans. The actress has been the face of L’Oréal for more than two decades, and her missing poster triggered backlash from angry fans, who quickly expressed their disappointment over the same. One of the users penned, “No matter how many ambassadors (even 100 alias) L’Oréal signs, none of them can match the timeless elegance and commanding presence that Aishwarya brings and that holds true even today.”
It was in 2003 when Aishwarya Rai Bachchan became a global brand ambassador for L’Oréal, alongside names like Andie MacDowell, Eva Longoria, and Penélope Cruz. Since then, Aishwarya has been walking the red carpet of the Cannes Film Festival under the brand’s name. She is one of the most loved and respected names in the French Riviera. After Aishwarya’s long association with the brand, it is natural that her absence from the poster would not go down well with her fans.
For her appearance at Cannes 2025, Aishwarya wore an ivory-hued Banarasi saree, along with a long dupatta. A choker, a doubled-layered diamond neckpiece, and a huge statement necklace adorned with rubies complemented her overall look. Amid her desi look, it was her sindoor-filled maang which stole the show.
Alia is returning to Cannes for the second consecutive year as a Global Ambassador for L’Oréal Paris. Speaking about her return, Alia revealed that she felt incredibly special to be back and was truly excited for what feels like an even bigger celebration this year. Alia had made her Cannes debut at the 2025 festival.
For the appearance, she chose to wear a dress from the international label, Schiaparelli. Her body-fitting dress had off-the-shoulder sleeves with floral detailing at the hem. Alia accentuated her look with a vintage-inspired style that exuded old-world charm and understated elegance. Soft makeup with a lot of golden highlighter and hair tightly tied in a centre-parted bun completed her look.
To watch the campaign, click here.
What do you think about Aishwarya Rai’s absence from the L’Oréal Paris campaign?
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