Jacob Elordi slammed for driving despite ditching prestigious role over foot injury

'A fumble' is what critics are branding the recent handling of Jacob Elordi's infamous foot injury.

It was reported earlier this week that the Australian actor had been forced to pull out of the prestigious Cannes Film Festival, which took place last month.

Not only that, but Elordi, 28, had been invited by organisers to join the ceremony's official nine-person jury under president Park Chan-wook, members of which would be responsible for deliberating on the films involved in the high-profile competition.

A spokesperson for the Wuthering Heights star told countless news agencies, including Page Six and Variety, that Elordi's withdrawal two weeks before the French festivities were due to kick off had been spurred by a broken foot.

The nature of the injury piqued curiosity at the time, especially amongst fans of Euphoria.

Elordi withdrew from the festival (Monica Schipper/Getty Images)

Days prior to Elordi's withdrawal, his on-screen character, Nate Jacobs, was hunted down by loan sharks, who savagely sliced off one of his toes after he was unable to cough up the cash he owed.

Noting the coincidence, one fan of the gritty teen-drama penned on X: "Omg it’s because they cut his toe off in euphoria... and 'foot injury?', You mean toe?"

This week, however, the Kissing Booth star and his representatives have had the excuse they gave Cannes Film Festival organisers called into question, after Elordi was spotted driving, despite his alleged injury.

In a snap that has since gone viral online, the star could be seen behind the wheel of a vehicle beside rumoured girlfriend Kendall Jenner, 30, who sat in the passenger's seat, attempting to shield her face.

Elordi's character in Euphoria recently had his toe cut off (HBO)

Kendall's 28-year-old sister, Kylie Jenner, was also in the back of the car behind Elordi, while her actor boyfriend, Timothée Chalamet, 30, sat behind the Victoria's Secret model.

Pointing out the contradiction in his team's claims, one X user questioned in response to the photo: "Girl, how do you turn down the chance to be one of the youngest ever Cannes jury members, due to a foot injury, only to be seen being the DRIVER in a car with 3 other passengers, each who could have taken the wheel if your foot was really that badly injured?"

"A fumble," they added.

Another presumed: "There was some massive miscommunication here between him, his publicist and the press. Because the injury was confirmed to Variety."

The Jenner sisters were spotted in the same car (Gotham/GC Image)

A third went on to tease: "Damn, bro, at least hop in the back seat. You gotta cover your tracks when you call in sick to work."

Tyla contacted Elordi's representatives for comment.