John Travolta has addressed the buzz surrounding his eccentric look after going viral at the 2026 Cannes Film Festival.
The “Grease” star, 72, sparked mixed reactions from fans after sporting three different versions of the eye-catching beret over the weekend.
In an interview with CNN on Monday, Travolta explained the important reason why he wore the chic headgear for his directorial debut in France.
“The old school directors wore berets and glasses. And I thought, that’s what I’m doing,” he told the outlet.
Travolta, who directed “Propeller One-Way Night Coach,” added that the striking look would help him remember the event in the future.
“I’ve been around for over 50 years doing movies, but I can’t tell, when I look back, the difference between the events,” the actor explained. “And I said, ‘I’m a director this time. You’re an actor, play the part of a director. Look like an old school director.”‘
John Travolta’s Cannes Look is a Homage to Old-School Directors
John Travolta also revealed that he “looked up pictures” of famous filmmakers for inspiration behind his viral beret look.
“I’m gonna do an homage to being a director,” the actor added. “So I’m gonna play the part of being a director, and then when I look back, I’ll know, ‘Oh, that was Propeller One-Way Night Coach, that was Cannes, that was when I won the Palme d’Or.’ And I will have vividness of it.”
While the “Hairspray” actor did not name the specific filmmaker who inspired the look, the Daily Mail suggested he may have been channeling Francis Ford Coppola, the acclaimed director of “The Godfather,” who is known for frequently wearing berets.
John Travolta’s Beret Look
John Travolta’s beret streak began on his way to the Cannes Film Festival, when he sported a navy blue version of the headwear while piloting his plane alongside his daughter, Ella Bleu Travolta.
He later switched things up for the main event, pairing a classic suit with an ivory beret. The actor walked the red carpet with his daughter. Lastly, he wore a black beret during a photo call for “Propeller One-Way Night Coach.”
“I’ve never been more proud to win an award! To me, the Cannes Palme d’Or award has always represented art at its finest. It is beyond a humbling experience,” Travolta shared on Instagram after winning the award.
“Propeller One-Way Night Coach” will begin streaming globally on Apple TV on May 29.
