Barbara Streisand is unable to attend the closing ceremony of the Cannes Film Festival after suffering a knee injury

Barbara Streisand will not attend the Cannes Film Festival to receive the honorary Palme d’Or after suffering a knee injury.

“On the advice of my doctors, and while I continue to recover from my knee injury, I will unfortunately not be able to attend Cannes this year,” Streisand said in a statement. “But I feel very honored to have received an honorary Palme d’Or and I was looking forward to celebrating the great films of the 79th edition. I was also very much looking forward to spending time with colleagues whom I greatly admire – and of course, returning to France, a place I have always loved.”

Her statement continued: “While I regret that I cannot attend in person, I would like to extend my warmest congratulations to all the filmmakers from around the world whose extraordinary talents and creative vision are being celebrated this year. My sincere thanks to the festival, and to everyone who continues to support and champion the art of cinema.”

Streisand was expected to attend the closing ceremony at the Lumiere Grand Theater on Saturday, May 23. Although she will not be able to attend, the festival will go ahead with a planned tribute to celebrate Streisand and her life’s work. Streisand had never had a film at Cannes before and the appearance was her first on the Croisette.

“Unfortunately, the Festival has just been informed that Dame Barbara Streisand will be unable to attend the gala at the Grand Théâtre Lumiere in Cannes,” the festival said. “Iris Knobloch, Thierry Frémaux and the entire festival team send Barbra Streisand their warmest wishes for a speedy recovery.”

“This year, we were keen to honor an artist who made her mark through the power of her art and her tireless pursuit of freedom,” Iris Knobloch, president of the Cannes Film Festival, said in a statement when announcing Streisand’s honor in March. “As a woman, I am thrilled to be able to express our admiration for this accomplished innovator and courageous citizen, whose example has stood the test of time and continues to inspire.”

Thierry Frémaux, director of the Cannes Film Festival, said in a statement: “The international star, Barbara Streisand, is above all an artist, launching projects that reflect her identity, her own, and share it with the whole world.” “She is the legendary synthesis between Broadway and Hollywood, between the music hall stage and the big screen. Hearing her sing and seeing her perform are part of our best years.”