-
The public outrage toward a raunchy Russian celebrity party has reached a fever pitch.
-
Celebrities who attended the “almost naked” party face boycotts, and one has even been jailed.
-
The backlash appears to be a touchstone moment for Russia’s increasing social conservatism.
The fallout from a raunchy party in Moscow that shocked Russian society has spiraled, with several celebrities facing boycotts, a lawsuit, and, in one case, even jail time.
Multiple Russian influencers are issuing groveling apologies and losing work as outrage toward the “almost naked” party on December 20 continues unabated.
The party was organized by Anastasia Ivleeva, an influencer who instructed her guests to dress to the theme of “nude illusion.”
Her guests, paying about $11,000 a ticket, did so with gusto, wearing skin-toned mesh and lace, with Ivleeva wearing a $250,000 diamond body chain, The Washington Post reported.
A rapper, Vacio, showed up in just shoes and a strategically placed sock, the Post reported.
Now, amid growing outrage, Ivleeva faces a class-action lawsuit filed Tuesday, in which plaintiffs demand she pay $11 million to a veterans charity, the independent Russian outlet Meduza reported.
Vacio — whose real name is Nikolai Vasilyev — has been sentenced to 15 days in jail for violating Russia’s laws against promoting homosexuality, The Guardian reported. Other attendees lost well-paid work, finding themselves dropped by brands they promoted and having TV specials and concerts canceled, Meduza reported.
Initially, Ivleeva reveled in the outrage in a Telegram post, saying she loved getting criticism for her antics, according to Meduza.
But as the backlash grew, that post was replaced by a tearful apology video, Meduza reported.
Ekaterina Mizulina, a pro-censorship activist, said the party was “a shot in the foot to the entire policy of our state” and called for a government-level boycott of the celebrities involved, the Post reported. Mizulina, the daughter of a prominent anti-LGBTQ senator, supported a recent law dubbing the international LGBTQ+ movement as extremist.
One of Russia’s top TV propagandists, Vladimir Solovyov, called the partygoers “beasts” and “scum,” the Post reported.
Both critics called attention to the contrast between the decadence of the party and the country’s soldiers on the front line in Ukraine.
Russian officials, including Maria Zakharova, a Foreign Ministry spokesperson, also criticized the party.
Dmitry Peskov, the spokesperson for Russian President Vladimir Putin, acknowledged the backlash when asked but stopped short of adding to it.
The reaction looks to be a touchstone moment in Russia’s swing toward extreme social conservatism. It also suggests that the economic privations and grind of military service pertaining to the invasion of Ukraine are much closer to mind for the Russian public than Putin had first hoped.
In an analysis, the BBC’s Russia editor, Steve Rosenberg, attributed the fallout to a need for scapegoats in Russia’s political system.
“It needs groups or individuals it can point to and blame for problems at home and abroad,” he wrote.
“Up till now, those scapegoats have included Ukraine, the US, the UK, the EU, and NATO,” he added. “Now, it seems, some Russian celebrities are on the list.”
Read the original article on Business Insider
