George Takei: ‘Vladimir Putin is a dangerous man’
By Sam Rigby
Actor George Takei has described Russian President Vladimir Putin as a “dangerous man”.
He said that it would be “irresponsible” for people to ignore Russia’s anti-gay laws after the Sochi Winter Olympics draw to a close on Sunday (February 23).
George told Gay Star News: “This Olympics is really a chilling thing because it reminds me of the 1936 Olympics when the Olympics Committee provided an international platform for Adolf Hitler. And the people said, ‘It can’t be that bad. It’s so obviously racist.’
“I’m not saying a holocaust against gays is going to happen, but this man is in need of a scapegoat. Russia’s economy is in the pits. And they overspent on this Olympics,” the Star Trek actor added.
He went on to describe the IOC has “absolutely spineless” for allowing Putin to have a “tremendous platform”.
“That’s the example of the 1936. Putin is feeling his oats now,’ he says. ‘It’s a tremendous platform he’s got. And he’s going to use it. If you know Putin, he’s not going to let this thing rest,” he warned.
George married his partner Brad Altman in California back in 2008.
More on Sochi:
> F1′s Ecclestone: ’90% of world agrees with Putin on gay rights’
> Madonna speaks out about Pussy Riot whipping
> IOC urged to add human rights to Olympic host criteria