A troubling allegation has resurfaced surrounding a 2012 incident at the famous Cannes Film Festival, involving Doug Emhoff, the husband of Vice President Kamala Harris, and a woman identified as Jane. At the time, Jane was dating Emhoff, who reportedly accompanied her as a plus one to the event.
The New York Post reported that a close friend of Jane, a well-known New York businessman, recently shared a disturbing account of that night, claiming that he received an unexpected phone call from Jane, who was in distress. “It was hard to hear her because she was sobbing,” the friend recounted. “She told me she was with a guy, her date, and he hit her. She was in the car with the guy at the time.”
According to the businessman, the conversation took place around 3 a.m., while Jane was still at the festival. He said he vividly remembered the incident and the fear he felt at that moment. “I didn’t know what to do, I didn’t know whether to call the French police. I couldn’t get a hold of her after calling back,” he added.
In subsequent conversations, Jane allegedly provided more context about the evening. She explained that after a night of drinking, she and Emhoff were waiting for a taxi amid a large crowd. In an attempt to expedite their departure, she reportedly offered a valet money to get to the front of the line. However, when she placed her hand on the valet’s shoulder, Emhoff allegedly misinterpreted the gesture as flirtation and reacted by slapping her in the face.
The businessman said the memory of that night remains “vivid” and troubling. “It was very clear what she was telling me. It was something like 3 a.m. They were trying to get out of there and both had been drinking,” he said.
Among the star-studded attendees that year were model Cara Delevingne, actors Antonio Banderas and Alec Baldwin, fashion designer Karl Lagerfeld, singer Kylie Minogue, actress Kirsten Dunst, socialite Paris Hilton, and top amfAR supporter and now-disgraced movie mogul Harvey Weinstein.