Elton John responds to Putin prank call: ‘Homophobia is never funny’
By Will Stroude
Elton John has responded to the news that his widely-reported phone conversation with Vladimir Putin about gay rights earlier this week was actually a prank call by two Russian TV presenters. Elton says that, while he enjoys a prank call as much as the next person, homophobia is “never funny”.
Earlier this week, the musical icon revealed that he wanted to sit down with the Russian president to discuss the treatment of the county’s LGBT community – a request that was seemingly fulfilled just a day later when he announced that Mr Putin had been in touch.
The waters were muddied somewhat when The Kremlin later denied that Mr Putin had made the call, and yesterday it emerged that the call the 68-year-old received was in fact by two Russia TV pranksters Vladimir Krasnov and Alexei Stolyarov, also known as ‘Vova and Lexus’, one of whom pretended to be the president, while the other acted as his ‘translator’.
In the leaked audio of the call, Sir Elton can be heard promising to come to Moscow Pride to support Russia’s LGBT community, telling what he believed to be Mr Putin that he wants “to make the world a better place, that’s all”.
The Rocket Man singer has responded to news of the hoax in a dignified manner, insisting in a post on his Instagram page today that he is ‘happy to be pranked’ if it keeps the issue of LGBT repression in Russia on the media agenda.
“Pranks are funny,” he wrote this morning. “Homophobia, however is never funny.
“I love Russia and my offer to talk to President Putin about LGBT rights still stands. I will always stand up for those that are being degraded and discriminated against.”
He added: “If this unfortunate incident has helped push this vital issue back into the spotlight, then I am happy to be pranked on this occasion.”
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