Update: The New York Times reports that Putin’s press secretary claims no such conversation ever took place. ““This does not correspond to reality,” said Dmitri S. Peskov. “There was no conversation.”
Elton John: Grammy-winning singer-songwriter, longtime pop icon, and now — it seems, according to an Instagram post (h/t Stereogum) — bringer of peace? John claims in the caption of photo of Russian President Vladimir Putin that he’d spoken with the man on the phone and that they’ll follow that conversation up with an in-person meeting about LGBTQ equality in Russia.
Per the Guardian:
Putin’s phone call followed harsh criticism from John in neighbouring Ukraine, where he met the president, Petro Poroshenko, to promote lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) rights.
Both Russia and Ukraine have a poor track record on the issue. Videos made in Moscow and Kiev this summer showed passersby insulting and attacking two men holding hands.
Godspeed, Sir Elton.
