Cannes Film Festival 2016: Cheryl walks the red carpet without boyfriend Liam Payne at Slack Bay screening

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Jennifer Ruby14 May 2016
The Weekender

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Cheryl made her first solo red carpet appearance of the Cannes Film Festival without other half Liam Payne.

The former Girls Aloud star, who has kept the One Direction singer by her side throughout the festival, decided to go it alone at the screening of Slack Bay.

Having her own time in the spotlight, the 32-year-old posed in front of a wall of photographers at the Palais des Festivals on Friday evening.

The pair, who started dating at the end of last year, made their official red carpet debut as a couple at the Global Gift Gala in Paris on Monday.

They also appeared together at the Chopard Trophy presentation on Thursday evening.

Cheryl was joined on the red carpet by Blake Lively, who has been promoting a number of films at this year’s festival, including Café Society and The Shallows.

While all eyes may have been on Cheryl and Lively, Friday night’s event was all about Bruno Dumont’s new comedy.

The French director was joined on the red carpet by his cast, including Juliette Binoche, Fabrice Luchini and Valeria Bruni Tedesci.

Speaking about the controversial ‘rape’ joke directed at Woody Allen during Wednesday night’s opening gala, Lively said:

Red carpet look: Blake Lively at the red carpet screening of Slack Bay 
2016 Getty Images

“I think any joke about rape, homophobia or Hitler is not a joke. I think that was a hard thing swallow in 30 seconds.

“Film festivals are such a beautiful, respectful festivals of film and artists and to have that, it felt like it wouldn’t have happened if it was in the 1940s.

“I can’t imagine Fred Astaire and Bing Crosby going out and doing that.”

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