Vladimir Putin, who happens to be the president of Russia, called Elton John on Thursday and said he wants to have a chat with him, after the Rock and Roll Hall of Famer said he wanted to speak with Putin about the state of gay rights in Russia.
No, it was really Putin this time, according to Reuters.
Earlier this month, a couple of Russian TV comedians tricked the British music icon into thinking Putin wanted to have a meeting. After the prank went public, John said he still wanted to speak with Putin about Russia’s anti-gay policies.
Bingo.
Reuters reported Putin’s spokesman, Dmitry Peskov, said Putin has called John, whose music Putin has said he’s a fan of.
I bet “Philadelphia Freedom” is one of his faves.
“Putin spoke to Elton John,” Peskov said. “Putin phoned him and said ‘I know some guys played a trick on you on the phone but don’t get offended. They are harmless people though that of course does not justify what they did.'”
What are the odds those guys are in a small. concrete room right about now?
Peskov said Putin told John he’s willing to meet him and discuss whatever he would like to talk about, if their schedules permit it.
John has criticized Russia’s law banning the spreading of “gay propaganda” among young people. Putin has said he’s not homophobic, but has made comments that some believe are insulting toward gays.
Tony Hicks writes celebrity commentary for the Bay Area News Group. Contact him at Facebook.com/BayAreaNewsGroup.TonyHicks or Twitter.com/tonyhicks67
