Elton John's special relationship with Russia

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Elton John's Special Relationship With Russia
SPENCER KORNHABER

The singer has said he may meet with Vladimir Putin to talk LGBT rights

NEW YORK: -- Among the more pressing international disputes of the week is the question of whether Vladimir Putin rang up Elton John. John’s Instagram post on the matter is pretty unambiguous—“Thank-you to President Vladimir Putin for reaching out and speaking via telephone with me today,” he wrote Monday.

“I look to forward to meeting with you face-to-face to discuss LGBT equality in Russia.” But a representative for the Kremlin later said that the call never happened.

The alleged communication would have followed a conversation between John and the Ukranian leader Petro Poroshenko about the subject of gay rights, after which the singer told the BBC he wished he could have a similar chat with Putin about Russia’s laws targeting “gay propaganda.”

If Putin did indeed reach out to Elton John, rather than to any of the many other Western celebrities who have decried Russia’s treatment of gays in the past few years, it wouldn’t be the strangest thing in the world. John has a long relationship with the country—historical roots, many fans, musical compatibility.

Full story: http://www.theatlantic.com/entertainment/archive/2015/09/elton-johns-special-relationship-with-russia/405526/

-- The Atlantic 2015-09-16

[ezzra]

A special relationship? some of us might read and understand it wrongly....

[ABCer]

Putin's position is well known. Russians position is also known. Vast majority of them are hostile to the cause of Elton John.

I doubt Putin has time for or interest in meeting with a giant like Elton John is.

But the fact of existing relationship is touching...

[h90]

Seems Elton John and Petro Poroshenko made a plot to damage Putins reputation.

Won't work.....

[tajtom]

Elton John is a lost soul to many drugs and not enough sleep... Who wants to meet that prime minister a absolute crook and stand over man and a weak man with little to offer but looking at himself in the mirror

[MockingJay]

What is it with all this Elton John crap lately? Did he run out of cash? Leave Putin alone, Elton! He has bigger fish to frie and no time to listen to your pathetic gender mainstream whining!!!

[Loptr]

I wonder if anyone has told Elton John that the phone call he supposedly received from Putin was a hoax?

http://www.theguardian.com/world/2015/sep/15/vladimir-putin-phones-elton-john-after-request-to-discuss-gay-rights-in-russia

[hakuho]

..maybe Putin made a secret trip to Elton's john?

[JAG]

Putin called Elton John?

Well bugger me - actually not a good choice of words to use to express disbelief!

[Lokie]

Someone's been pulling Elton's plonker... and it aint his better half...? lol

[jacko45k]

A special relationship? some of us might read and understand it wrongly....

I seriously doubt that is an image Mr Putin would like to promote!

[Thongkorn]

..maybe Putin made a secret trip to Elton's john?

I wondered why Sputin was walking with a lisp.

[thaiturkey]

A special relationship? some of us might read and understand it wrongly....

I heard that they have a common ancestor.......RAS PUTIN.