Australian Reporter Faces Backlash at Cannes Over Exchange

An Australian journalist has been slammed online over an awkward moment during the press conference for director Na Hong-jin's upcoming film Hope this week. 

The panel brought together an international cast including Korean stars Hwang Jung-min, Zo In-sung and Jung Ho-yeon, Hollywood couple and , and Canadian actress Taylor Russell, who is of Jamaican heritage.

Throughout the press conference, name placards for each guest were clearly displayed on the table.

However, in footage now circulating widely on social media, the journalist addressed only Fassbender and Vikander by name before telling the rest of the panel: 'I don't know the rest of you.'

The comment instantly appeared to create an uncomfortable atmosphere in the room.

Video from the event showed Jung Ho-yeon and Russell exchanging glances as the questioning continued, while several other cast members remained visibly unimpressed.

The journalist then shifted focus to Fassbender and Vikander's real-life marriage, asking whether the pair had effectively been hired together as a 'package'.

'Two actors for the price of one maybe, or?' the journalist asked.

Director Na quickly rejected the suggestion, explaining that the production team had separately approached both actors before casting them in the film.

The tense interaction has since gone viral online, with many social media users criticising the moment as rude, unprofessional and offensive. 

'There could've been so many different ways to have phrased that to be inclusive and not only did she just choose to refer to the two white leads, but felt the need to add on 'I don't know the rest of you'?!?' one user wrote on Instagram. 

'What a shamefully offensive question,' another agreed, as a third user wrote: 'Cannes should ban journalist like this.'  

Yet another user weighed in: 'If you are working in a professional environment, personal familiarity should NOT dictate your behaviour in front of an international cast and crew. Your job is to treat all guests with equal courtesy.' 

'Her asking the director a question and not knowing his f**king name is ridiculous,' someone else chimed in.