Cannes Lions Festival 2022: Pop Star Reina Sawayama Turns Cannes Pride Event into "Hell"
The scorching black-hot Cannes Festival was set on fire by Reina Sawayama.
The Japanese-British pop star, known for her sexually charged performances, turned the Google Pride event on Thursday into "Hell of Hells" in celebration of the LGBTQIA+ community, of which she proudly identifies.
"Pretend we're in Middle America," she said before performing her song "This Hell," an anthem that challenges secular beliefs about queer individuals. "I don't have much experience with Middle America, but I'm just pretending."
"We're in a barn. Do you know what a barn is?" continued the 31-year-old Sawayama. "Why I ask you that is because although this is a safe place right now, and we're thriving anyway, there are some people who want to go to hell."
Sawayama indicated that she wrote the "little song" because she "thought if we were all going to hell together, it would be like a celebration for me, am I right?"
The crowds of fans, many of whom were likely marketing and advertising executives in town for the week-long industry event, shook the ground with non-stop jumping and dancing as the UK-based artist sang the lyrics.
"It turns out, I'll go to hell if I keep being myself," she said. "I don't know what I did, but they seem very angry about it/hate us? Well, buckle up, at dawn we ride."
Sawayama, who rocked the house in a colorful outfit with sheer panels, delivered several of her songs, including the dance track "Lucid," the Britney Spears-inspired "XS," and "Free Woman," a duet with Lady Gaga (minus the mother monster, unfortunately).
Festival-goers were treated to complimentary face painting and glittery nails by Google. In the queue, they braved the scorching heat with endless flower crowns and pride-flag-adorned cocktails.
