Where is the OG Queen? L’Oréal Paris Faces Backlash for Excluding Aishwarya Rai in Favor of Alia Bhatt in 2026 Campaign Video
The controversy surrounding the “OG Queen” has become one of the biggest talking points of Cannes 2026, highlighting a generational shift in how global brands approach the Indian market.
Here is the full breakdown of the L’Oréal Paris campaign row and the official response.
The Incident: “The Erasure of a Legend”
On May 10, 2026, L’Oréal Paris released a major promotional video featuring the unfurling of massive posters on the facade of the iconic Hôtel Martinez in Cannes.
- The Lineup: The video prominently featured Alia Bhatt (in her second year as Global Ambassador) alongside international icons like Viola Davis, Eva Longoria, and Helen Mirren.
- The Omission: Aishwarya Rai Bachchan, who has been the face of the brand at Cannes since 2003 (over 20 years), was notably absent from the visuals.
The Backlash: Fans vs. The Brand
The omission sparked an immediate firestorm on X and Instagram, with fans accusing the brand of “blasphemy” and “disrespecting a legend.”
- “Selling a Dream vs. a Product”: A viral critique argued that “Aishwarya sells a dream; Alia is just selling a product,” claiming that Alia lacks the “ethereal, international aura” that Aishwarya spent decades building on the French Riviera.
- The “Passing of the Torch” Friction: Many long-time followers expressed that while they respect Alia’s success, replacing Aishwarya’s imagery with Alia’s felt like a forced “Gen Z pivot” that ignored the historical weight of the “OG Queen.”
The Official Response
L’Oréal Paris has since broken its silence to manage the PR fallout:
- Confirmation of Attendance: The brand confirmed that Aishwarya Rai Bachchan will be attending Cannes 2026.
- The “Triple Threat” Lineup: They clarified that India will be represented by three distinct ambassadors this year: Aishwarya Rai Bachchan, Alia Bhatt, and Aditi Rao Hydari.
- Poster Clarification: While they haven’t explicitly apologized for the video’s contents, the brand indicated that the campaign is “rolling out in phases,” suggesting that Aishwarya’s specific spotlight moments are yet to come.
The Current Status
- Alia Bhatt has already arrived at the Riviera, making headlines in a structured black Carolina Herrera blazer and a hand-painted Yash Patil gown.
- Aishwarya Rai is expected to arrive later this week. All eyes are now on her first red carpet walk, which fans are treating as a “revenge” moment to prove her enduring “star power” despite the campaign snub.
The big question remaining for the weekend: Can Aishwarya’s red carpet presence reclaim the narrative from the “brand pivot,” or is this truly the beginning of a new era for L’Oréal in India?
