Russian pranksters claim Putin hoax call to Elton John
MOSCOW (AP) – Two Russian pranksters said Wednesday they fooled Elton John into believing Russian President Vladimir Putin had given him a call.
The British star Tuesday posted a message on Instagram, thanking Putin for calling him to discuss gay rights in Russia and inviting him to Moscow. Putin’s spokesman Dmitry Peskov denied the reports, saying Putin never called John.
Vladimir “Vovan” Krasnov and Alexei “Lexus” Stolyarov told Russian daily Komsomolskaya Pravda they fooled John by calling him Tuesday and pretending they were Peskov and Putin. The two men, known for prank-calling Russian and Ukrainian celebrities for television shows, said the audio of the call would be broadcast on a prime-time show this week.
Last week John criticized Russia’s law against gay “propaganda” and comments by Putin suggesting gay people prey on children. He told the BBC he would “love to sit down with him” and try to change Putin’s mind.
Krasnov and Stolyarov said John had been waiting for a call from Putin “very much” and that’s why he instantly believed he was really talking to the people who they said they were.
Krasnov said John told them their call “made his day” and it was “the most amazing” conversation in his life.
In comments carried by Russian news agencies Wednesday, Peskov suggested the two men apologize to John for the hoax, saying he is “a much respected and loved performer over here” and the hoax “was not nice.”