Down Angle Symbol A symbol in the form of an angle pointing downwards. A composite image showing, on the left, a tearful Anastasia Ivleeva apologizing in a video and, on the right, a view of the party she hosted on December 20, 2023, which caused massive backlash in Russia. Anastasia Ivleeva/Telegram/Ostorozhno Novosti via Portal
- The outraged public reaction to a raunchy Russian celebrity party has reached its peak.
- Celebrities who attended the “almost naked” party face boycotts and even prison sentences.
- The backlash appears to be a defining moment for Russia's increasing social conservatism.
The fallout from a raunchy party in Moscow that shocked Russian society has deepened, with several celebrities facing boycotts, a lawsuit and even prison sentences.
Several Russian influencers are humbly apologizing and losing their jobs as outrage over the “almost naked” party on December 20 continues unabated.
The party was organized by influencer Anastasia Ivleeva, who instructed her guests to dress according to the theme of “naked illusion.”
Her guests, who paid around $11,000 per ticket, did so with gusto, wearing nude mesh and lace, while Ivleeva herself wore a $250,000 diamond body chain, The Washington Post reported.
A rapper named Vacio showed up wearing only shoes and a strategically placed sock, The Post reported.
Anastasia Ivleeva attends the Prada Spring/Summer 2024 Womenswear Fashion Show on September 21, 2023 in Milan, Italy. Claudio Lavenia/Getty Images for Prada
Now, amid growing outrage, Ivleeva faces a class-action lawsuit filed on December 26 in which plaintiffs demand she pay $11 million to a veterans charity, independent Russian media Meduza reports.
According to The Guardian, Vacio – whose real name is Nikolai Vasilyev – was sentenced to 15 days in prison for violating Russia's laws promoting homosexuality. Other participants lost well-paying jobs, were dropped by the brands they promoted, and TV specials and concerts were canceled, Meduza reported.
Ivleeva initially welcomed the outrage in a Telegram post and said she welcomes criticism for her antics, according to Meduza.
But as the backlash grew, that post was replaced with a tearful apology video, Meduza reported.
Censorship advocate Ekaterina Mizulina said the party was “a slap in the face to the entire politics of our state” and called for a government-level boycott of the celebrities involved, the Washington Post reported. Mizulina, the daughter of a prominent anti-LGBTQ senator, supported a recent law that labeled the international LGBTQ movement as extremist.
One of Russia's top television propagandists, commentator Vladimir Solovyov, called the partygoers “beasts” and “scum,” the Washington Post reported.
Both critics drew attention to the contrast between the party's decadence and the country's soldiers on the front lines in Ukraine.
Russian officials, including Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova, also criticized the party.
Dmitry Peskov, spokesman for Russian President Vladimir Putin, acknowledged the backlash when asked, but did not want to increase it.
The reaction appears to be a pivotal moment in Russia's ongoing shift toward extreme social conservatism. It also suggests that the economic deprivation and hardships of military service that accompanied the invasion of Ukraine are much more salient to the Russian public than Putin had initially hoped.
In an analysis, BBC Russia editor Steve Rosenberg attributed the fallout to the need for scapegoats in Russia's political system.
“There needs to be groups or individuals who can be pointed out and blamed for problems at home and abroad,” he wrote.
“So far, these scapegoats have included Ukraine, the US, the UK, the EU and NATO. Now it seems some Russian celebrities are on the list.”
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