A viral moment from the Golden Globes red carpet, which saw Jennifer Lopez accused of being 'rude' to a camera director, has been firmly defended by the man at the centre of the storm.
The Viral Moment That Sparked Outrage
Last week, at the high-profile awards ceremony, a short clip circulated showing Jennifer Lopez interacting with Cole Walliser, the director behind E!'s famous Glambot. The high-speed camera is used to create slow-motion glamour shots of celebrities. In the video, Lopez is seen giving a brief response to Walliser's greeting before looking down and turning her back towards him as he prepared the shot.
Viewers were quick to criticise the singer and actress, branding her actions as 'snobbish' and accusing her of ignoring the director. One angry social media user told her to "buy some manners," while another stated she "didn't even look at him." The incident quickly became a talking point, adding to the usual buzz of red carpet commentary.
Director Cole Walliser Sets the Record Straight
In a video posted on Sunday, Cole Walliser directly addressed the backlash, urging the internet to "calm down." The Canadian director explained the context that the viral clip missed, stating he did not take her actions personally and that the moment "didn't feel rude" at the time.
"I think there's a couple things that added to the fuel of this idea," Walliser said. "One, she's just down to business. The carpet was closed. She's ready to go inside. She knew what she was gonna do. She got into the position. It's just unfortunate that the position was she was facing away from me."
He emphasised that Lopez was focused on executing her planned move for the camera and was simply in a rush, as the red carpet schedule was concluding. Walliser added that he understood her professionalism, saying, "I knew what she was doing. I knew she was getting ready. I knew it was late. We were just getting through it."
A Reminder of Celebrity Pressures
Walliser used the opportunity to shed light on the reality of working with celebrities on busy red carpets. He stressed that stars are there to work, promoting projects or fulfilling presenting duties, and that stopping for his Glambot is a generous use of their limited time.
"Anybody that stops [for the Glambot], I already like you because you're taking the time to do my thing and this is generous of you because you don't have to do it," he explained. He noted that many celebrities are sometimes unsure what they are walking up to when they approach his station.
Not the First Time JLo Has Shown Professionalism
This is far from the first instance where Jennifer Lopez has been praised for her composure under pressure. Fans recently commended her for handling an unexpected on-stage intrusion with remarkable grace.
During a performance last November, a large cricket crawled onto her body and up onto her neck while she was singing. Dressed in a intricate black mesh top, the 56-year-old star seamlessly continued her emotional performance, delicately flicking the insect away as she finished. She then laughed it off with the crowd, exclaiming, "It was tickling me." The incident was hailed as a testament to her veteran professionalism.
The recent Glambot controversy, now clarified by the director involved, serves as another example of how a fleeting moment taken out of context can spark unwarranted online criticism, even towards one of the most seasoned performers in the industry.
