Leila Hatami, Iranian actress known for her breakout role in A Separation, received criticism from an Iranian government official after greeting Gilles Jacob with a kiss on the cheek at the Cannes Film Festival.

Leila Hatami Upsets Iranian Deputy Culture Minister

Hatami is serving on the Cannes Film Festival Jury under director Jane Campion and was photographed kissing Cannes Film Festival head Jacob on the cheek, which is the French custom.

Iranian deputy culture minister Hossein Noushabadi was clearly upset by the public display, and reportedly called Hatami a bad representation of Iranian women.

“Those who attend intentional events should take heed of the credibility and chastity of Iranians so that a bad image of Iranian women will not be demonstrated to the world,” Noushabadi said.

Noushabi added that an Iranian woman should be “the symbol of chastity and innocence.”

Noushabadi went on to question Hatami’s presence at the Cannes Film Festival itself, calling her involvement “inappropriate.”

Gilles Jacob Stands Up For Leila Hatami

Jacob took to Twitter to defend Hatami on Monday, insisting that it was him who initiated the kiss to the cheek greeting with Hatami.

“It was I who gave a kiss to Madame Hatami. At that moment, she represented to me all of Iranian cinema…This controversy based on a Western custom is baseless,” Jacob wrote.

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