Russian President Vladimir Putin has been dropping buddies ever since he invaded Ukraine final yr.
However some public figures have stayed loyal to him, together with Hollywood actors and musicians.
Whereas a few of them proceed to defend Putin, they’ve additionally stated they’re towards the conflict.
From actor Leonardo DiCaprio to martial arts star Jean-Claude Van Damme, some celebrities had been as soon as pleased to be pictured with Russian President Vladimir Putin.
Supply: The Guardian
However after the Russian chief launched a full-scale invasion of Ukraine final yr, many have been wanting to distance themselves from him.
Martial artist and actor Van Damme, for instance, visited Ukraine final month and was filmed shouting “Glory to Ukraine” alongside Russian troopers.
In 2007, Van Damme, his daughter, and Putin — additionally a recognized martial arts fanatic — visited an MMA occasion in St. Petersburg, Russia, collectively, the Kremlin reported on the time.
Leonardo DiCaprio, who met with Putin in 2010 to debate the endangerment of the Siberian Tiger, has since donated to humanitarian teams working in Ukraine.
A month after Russia launched its assault, DiCaprio donated to teams together with the United Nation’s Excessive Commissioner for Refugees and Save the Kids, the Related Press reported.
Supply: The Guardian
One other former showbiz pal, French actor Gérard Depardieu, has since criticized Putin for his “loopy excesses” and was essential of the conflict.
In 2013, Putin signed an govt order making Depardieu a Russian citizen. The actor needed to turn out to be a Russian citizen to save lots of taxes in France, The New York Occasions reported.
In a letter to Russian state tv on the time, he stated: “I like your president, Vladimir Putin, very a lot and it is mutual,” in response to The Occasions.
After the conflict, Depardieu informed Agence France-Presse in an interview: “Russia and Ukraine have at all times been brother international locations. I’m towards this fratricidal conflict.”
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“I say, ‘Cease the weapons and negotiate,'” he added.
In March 2022, shortly after Russia invaded Ukraine, French media reported that Depardieu turned a citizen of the United Arab Emirates. It’s unclear when precisely this occurred.
Supply: Sky Information
In 2003, the Beatles frontman Paul McCartney visited the Kremlin to carry out for Putin. Because the conflict, he is proven his solidarity with Ukraine.
In April final yr, McCartney waved the Ukrainian flag as he kicked off his 2022 world tour in Spokane, Washington, MailOnline reported.
In 2001, actor Jack Nicholson reportedly provided Putin a movie producer function in a future movie after the Russian chief stated he liked his film “One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest.” Nicholson has since come out in assist of Ukraine.
In a video posted a number of months after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, Nicholson was seen holding up a rock with the colours of the Ukrainian flag.
The caption stated: “We’re with the individuals of Ukraine.”
Supply: The Guardian
Nevertheless, some A-listers have determined to remain loyal, even when they won’t absolutely agree with the conflict in Ukraine.
Arguably his most public supporter is the Hollywood actor Steven Seagal, who additionally turned a Russian citizen in 2016 after Putin personally gave him his passport.
Seagal and Putin are long-time buddies.
The actor beforehand backed the annexation of Crimea in 2014 and can be in assist of Russia’s ongoing invasion of Ukraine.
In February, Putin awarded him the Order of Friendship award for his “worldwide humanitarian and cultural work,” Reuters reported.
Seagal, who’s 70 years previous, is understood for his appearances in a number of Hollywood motion movies, together with “The Patriot” and “Above the Regulation.”
In 2017, Ukraine banned Seagal from coming into the nation on nationwide safety grounds, The Guardian reported.
Supply: Insider, CNN
Roger Waters, the co-founder of the rock band Pink Floyd, addressed the UN safety council at Russia’s invitation final month.
In his speech to the UN safety council on February 8, he referred to as for a right away ceasefire in Ukraine.
“The invasion of Ukraine by the Russian Federation was unlawful. I condemn it within the strongest potential phrases,” he stated. “Additionally, the Russian invasion of Ukraine was not unprovoked, so I additionally condemn the provocateurs within the strongest potential phrases.”
In one other interview with the Berliner Zeitung in February, Waters stated Putin “governs fastidiously, making choices on the grounds of a consensus within the Russian Federation authorities.”
After his feedback, Polly Samson, the spouse of Pink Floyd’s David Gilmour, referred to as Waters a “Putin apologist,” The Guardian reported.
Per week earlier than Russia’s invasion, Waters informed Russia At the moment that speak of any assault was “bullshit” and “propaganda demonizing Russia.”
Supply: The Guardian
In October final yr, former Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi boasted about his friendship with Putin and stated the Russian chief despatched him 20 bottles of vodka and a “very candy letter” for his birthday.
In a secret recording, printed in October by LaPresse, Berlusconi will be heard telling lawmakers throughout a parliamentary assembly about his “re-established” relationship with Putin.
Within the audio clip, which his workplace confirmed was genuine, he boasts that the Russian chief referred to as him “the primary of his 5 true buddies.”
Berlusconi has additionally blamed Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy for the conflict in Ukraine telling Italian media final month that Zelenskyy may have stopped the conflict.
“I choose, very, very negatively the conduct of this gentleman,” Berlusconi added.
Berlusconi, who was Italy’s prime minister for near a decade, is now a senator and heads the conservative get together Forza Italia.
However Berlusconi has beforehand additionally condemned the conflict and admitted in April final yr that he was “deeply upset and saddened” by the conduct of the Russian chief.
The previous chief govt of the Method 1 Group and billionaire Bernard Ecclestone stated he would “take a bullet” for Putin final summer time.
“Sadly he is like lots of enterprise individuals, definitely like me, that we make errors once in a while and if you make the error, it’s a must to do the most effective you may to get out of it,” Ecclestone informed Good Morning Britain in June 2022.
Ecclestone additionally criticized Zelenskyy and argued that the Ukrainian chief wasn’t making a “sufficiently big effort” to debate a peace plan and described Putin as a “wise individual.”
“The opposite individual in Ukraine, his occupation I perceive, was once a comic, and I feel evidently he desires to proceed that occupation,” Ecclestone stated of Zelenskyy.
After his feedback prompted a backlash, Ecclestone apologized, telling Sky Sports activities: “Usually individuals, I feel, come out and say issues or do issues with out actually an excessive amount of considering. Most likely I did the identical, and I can perceive individuals considering I am defending what he is carried out in Ukraine, which I do not.”
He added: “I used to be introduced up through the conflict, the final conflict, so I do know what it is like. And I really feel sorry for the individuals in Ukraine having to endure for one thing they have not carried out. They’ve carried out nothing incorrect.”
Supply: Sky Information
American filmmaker Oliver Stone, who has beforehand interviewed the Russian president, stated in Might that Putin is “a terrific chief for his nation and the individuals love him.”
In 2017, Stone launched a 4-hour-long documentary about Putin, which was sympathetic concerning the Russian president. Stone stated on the time that Russian individuals “have by no means been higher off.”
In a follow-up interview by The Guardian this month, Stone indicated that his views on Putin had not modified a lot regardless of the conflict.
“I feel Russia is doing a terrific job with nuclear vitality,” he informed The Guardian. “China can be a pacesetter in that discipline, though I by no means was capable of penetrate into China, which was a disgrace for the film I want we had. However Putin is a good chief for his nation and the individuals love him.”
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