In the snowy luxury of Crans-Montana, a New Year’s celebration turned into an unimaginable nightmare on January 1, 2026. Flames engulfed Le Constellation bar in seconds, killing 41 people—including young staff—and injuring over 115 with horrific burns. Among the victims was 24-year-old French waitress Cyane Panine, forever etched in public memory as the “girl in the helmet,” captured on video hoisting champagne bottles topped with blazing sparklers just before the ceiling ignited.

Yet, as grief grips the nation, Cyane’s family now endures a second tragedy: a torrent of online and public criticism blaming their daughter for the disaster. Photos of her waving the “magic fountains” went viral, sparking outrage: “She started it!” critics screamed. But her devastated parents and lawyer paint a far different picture—one of exploitation and negligence.

Cyane, described as cheerful and trusting, had no fire safety training, her family’s legal team revealed. She wasn’t even scheduled to serve tables that fateful night but was pulled downstairs to handle surging demand for sparkling bottle service—on direct orders from owners Jacques and Jessica Moretti. Unaware of the flammable foam ceiling above, she followed instructions to amp up the party atmosphere. Moments later, sparks touched the material, and hell erupted.

Her parents, Astrid and Jérôme, have spoken out in anguish: their daughter “trusted people and paid the ultimate price.” They allege the owners locked emergency exits to prevent non-paying guests from sneaking in— a cost-cutting move that trapped dozens inside as smoke and fire spread. The Morettis, charged with negligent homicide, injury, and arson, have shifted blame toward employees, including Cyane, claiming she acted recklessly. Yet investigations point to deeper failures: inadequate safety checks, overcrowded conditions, and ignored risks in a high-end venue.

Court hearings have been explosive. Grieving parents confronted the owners outside, shouting “You killed my son!” and “Monsters!” One mother of severely burned daughters met them privately, seeking answers amid ongoing pain. Survivors, including teens still fighting for recovery in hospitals across Europe, demand truth.

For Cyane’s family, the backlash compounds unbearable loss. Their bright, kind daughter—seen as a “stepdaughter” by the owners—died trying to do her job. Was she reckless, or a scapegoat in a chain of fatal oversights? As probes expand to local safety officials, one thing remains clear: this New Year’s joy became a graveyard because safety was sacrificed for spectacle. The Panine family fights not just for justice, but to reclaim their daughter’s memory from the flames of blame.