‘Euphoria’ Star Sharon Stone Calls Out Cannes Audience Mid-Event: “Put Your F***ing Phone Down”

Events in Cannes often mix glamour, speeches, and big personalities. This time, attention shifted away from fashion and celebrity appearances and toward a strong message about how people treat each other in everyday life.

The moment came during a gala evening linked to the Better World Fund, an organization focused on supporting “cinema and art at the service of humanity,” according to event details.

The discussion quickly centered on Hollywood actress Sharon Stone, who used her time on stage to speak directly to the audience. Known for major films like Basic Instinct, Casino, and Broken Flowers, she moved away from typical industry talk and instead focused on kindness, empathy, and real-world connection between people in the room.

During her speech, Stone urged people to be more open with each other and not hold back on expressing care. She said, “I want you to tell them, and I want you to mean it, that you’re sorry for the thing that hurt them,” encouraging the audience to reflect on how they treat others and to speak more honestly in personal moments.

@varietymagazine #SharonStone told #Cannes ♬ original sound – Variety

She also pointed to how negative emotions can build up when people feel disconnected. “That makes them afraid, mean, unkind, afraid when they’re alone, angry,” she said, linking emotional distance with frustration and isolation.

At one point, she became more direct about the behavior she was seeing in the room. “Put that f—ing phone down,” Stone said, pushing the audience to stop focusing on screens and pay attention to the people sitting next to them. She continued with a simple instruction for the crowd, saying, “Turn to the person next to you. Turn that man right there and hug him. Hug that man.”

The message stood out in a setting known for luxury and exclusivity. Reports from the event noted that ticket prices started at around $2,300 and could reach up to $35,000 for VIP access. Despite the high-profile atmosphere, Stone’s speech focused on something much more basic: human connection, attention, and kindness in everyday moments.

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