One of the most-talked-about moments of this year’s Venice Film Festival has nothing to do with a movie on screen. A clip showing Nina Dobrev being seemingly gestured off the red carpet while she was still posing for photographers has gone viral, and viewers can not agree on what really happened.
What the video shows
The Vampire Diaries star, 37, was at the festival’s opening night for the Ink screening when she was approached by an official while posing for photographers. Footage shared on TikTok shows the man gesturing for her to move along. A visibly confused Dobrev kept twirling her Armani Prive dress for the cameras until a second man appeared, at which point she pulled a face and swept off the carpet.
The internet is divided
Some viewers read the exchange as Dobrev being rudely rushed off while she was still mid-pose, while others pointed out that red-carpet officials routinely keep the schedule moving on the busiest nights of the festival. The clip sparked a broad online debate about the pressure on celebrities and how red-carpet etiquette is enforced.
No comment, so far
Neither Dobrev nor the festival organizers have commented on the clip. The actress was later seen at a star-studded Armani Beauty dinner in Venice, apparently in good spirits and posing alongside other guests.
A familiar face for Filipino fans
For Filipino audiences, the clip hits differently because The Vampire Diaries was a huge favorite on local cable, and Dobrev’s turn as Elena Gilbert made her a household name for a generation of viewers. Seeing her in an awkward spot on one of cinema’s biggest stages is the kind of moment fans love to talk about, however it is read.
Here is a quick rundown of the story:
- Who: Nina Dobrev, star of The Vampire Diaries
- Where: Venice Film Festival opening night
- What: Seemingly shepherded off the red carpet while posing
- Fallout: Viral clip, split opinions, no comment from either side
