Elton John hoax Vladimir Putin call released
A recording of a hoax call to Sir Elton John has been published, on which the star thinks he is speaking to Vladimir Putin and agrees to meet with November.
Earlier this week, Sir Elton John – who has a large following in Russia – called for President Putin to meet with him to discuss his country’s anti-gay laws, saying: “I’d probably not [change his mind], but I’ll have a go! I’d love to meet him, I’d love to sit down with him and talk to him.”
The singer later claimed that he had received a call from President Putin, writing on his official Instagram: “Thank-you to President Vladimir Putin for reaching out and speaking via telephone with me today.”
However, the story took a strange twist when a spokesperson for President Putin insisted he had never spoken to the singer, and had no plans whatsoever to meet him.
It yesterday emerged that the entire incident may have been an elaborate hoax, set up by TV pranksters Vladimir Krasnov and Alexei Stolyarov, known as ‘Vova and Lexus’.
On the call, the Rocketman star, through an ‘interpreter’, says he is “honoured” to receive the call from “one of the most influential people in the world.”
The star is heard saying he wants to meet Putin in person, and says a meeting with the President in November would be “fantastic”.
Sir Elton also says he would like to attend a Pride rally in Moscow during his visit.
He says: “I would welcome [dialogue] because things get done better when you see somebody and you meet them. If both our offices can find a convenient date where we can convene and have a really wonderful discussion … that would be a miracle. It would be fantastic, and it would be a dream come true.”
At the end of the call, Sir Elton says he wants “to make the world a better place, that’s all”, and professes his love for Russia.
The pranksters have said it was easy to get in touch with Sir Elton.
Listen to the whole 11 minute call below: