Vladimir Putin and Elton John. (Agence France-Presse photos)
This time, it has happened for real. Dmitry Peskov, a spokesman for Russian President Vladimir Putin, told reporters this week that the Russian leader had called Elton John after attending a meeting in a cornfield in southern Russia.
The spur of the conversation was a joke. Earlier this month, two Russian pranksters rang up the British singer, an outspoken voice on LGBT rights and a critic of the Kremlin's anti-gay laws, while masquerading as Putin. The Washington Post's Andrew Roth described what happened next: The telephone conversation produced a warm note on Instagram from John, who unexpectedly posted a portrait of Putin earlier this week and wrote: "Thank-you to President Vladimir Putin for reaching out and speaking via telephone with me today. I look forward to meeting with you face-to-face to discuss LGBT equality in Russia." He added the hashtag #sharethelove.
According to the pranksters, who spoke to a Russian newspaper, John "immediately believed in the reality of the conversation with the people that we said we were." They said the singer concluded the discussion in very good spirits: "Thank you, you've made my day. This day and conversation were the most remarkable and beautiful in my life!"
The real Putin was apparently apologetic. "I know that those phone pranksters fooled you. Please don't be angry with them," he told John, according to Peskov. The spokesman continued: "Putin also said that he understands how popular Elton John is, so if their schedules permit, he will be willing to meet him in the future and discuss any issues that he is concerned about."
John has challenged other politicians accused of homophobia, and he got into a spat this year with the right-wing mayor of Venice, where the singer and his husband own a home.
The spur of the conversation was a joke. Earlier this month, two Russian pranksters rang up the British singer, an outspoken voice on LGBT rights and a critic of the Kremlin's anti-gay laws, while masquerading as Putin. The Washington Post's Andrew Roth described what happened next: The telephone conversation produced a warm note on Instagram from John, who unexpectedly posted a portrait of Putin earlier this week and wrote: "Thank-you to President Vladimir Putin for reaching out and speaking via telephone with me today. I look forward to meeting with you face-to-face to discuss LGBT equality in Russia." He added the hashtag #sharethelove.
According to the pranksters, who spoke to a Russian newspaper, John "immediately believed in the reality of the conversation with the people that we said we were." They said the singer concluded the discussion in very good spirits: "Thank you, you've made my day. This day and conversation were the most remarkable and beautiful in my life!"
The real Putin was apparently apologetic. "I know that those phone pranksters fooled you. Please don't be angry with them," he told John, according to Peskov. The spokesman continued: "Putin also said that he understands how popular Elton John is, so if their schedules permit, he will be willing to meet him in the future and discuss any issues that he is concerned about."
John has challenged other politicians accused of homophobia, and he got into a spat this year with the right-wing mayor of Venice, where the singer and his husband own a home.
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