Russian celebrities and pop stars have started issuing on-camera apologies for attending a scandalous almost naked party that waswidely condemned in pro-Kremlin circles as unpatriotic and disrespectful of Russian soldiers.After initially dismissing thepublic outcryover footage of scantily clad celebrities and other guests at last weeks private party at a Moscow nightclub, the partys organizer, media personality Anastasia Ivleeva,published a video in which she apologized for causing the controversy.Was it inappropriate to film footage that went viral? Yes, it was 100% highly inappropriate.
Im sorry that happened and that it couldnt be controlled, Ivleeva said on the Telegram messaging app Sunday.I apologize to everyone: to the public and to my guests who became unwitting participants in what unfolded in the media.
I fully and completely recognize my responsibility for what happened.Ivleeva said she planned to donate part of the proceeds from the almost naked party to charity.On Tuesday, pop star Filipp Kirkorovextended his own apology for attending Ivleevas party, saying: There are moments in everyones life when you walk through the wrong door.In these difficult times, heroic times, an artist of my caliber, a Peoples Artist, cannot and should not be so irresponsible when participating in various events, Kirkorov said.The last thing Id want is for this oversight on my part to be the reason for restricting my art in Russia, he added.Kirkorovs on-camera apology came one day after he was filmedexplaining his actions to President Vladimir Putins spokesman Dmitry Peskov.Another veteran singer, Lolita,saidin a video that she had not expected the anger the almost naked party would cause,adding that her concerts were now being canceled and appearances in pre-recorded New Years Eve TV shows edited out.Singer Dima Bilanshared his public apology on Tuesday, claiming that his attendance at the party is not a reflection of who I am.I understand perfectly well the resentment of our people, and especially our guys who are defending us on the frontlines, Bilan said, adding that he regularly donates to pro-war causes and performs for Russian soldiers families.Also on Tuesday, media personality Ksenia Sobchaksaid she acknowledged that sharing images from Ivleevas almost naked party was inappropriate at a time when Russian troops were fighting in Ukraine.If anyone was offended by my appearance, I apologize for that, Sobchak said.
I dont want to cause hatred and anger toward myself and other artists because of this stupid accident.Nearly every artist hinted in their respective videos that they disapproved of rapper VACO (Nikolai Vasilyev), who was seen at the party wearing only a sock.A Moscow court on Friday fined and jailed Vasilyev for 15 days on charges of gay propaganda and petty hooliganism.Apology videos have become increasinglyprevalent in Russia since the 2022 invasion of Ukraine.
They were firstpopularized by Chechen leader Ramzan Kadyrov, whose critics have been forced to issue on-camera apologies since 2015.