The last Madge suit we heard about involved an allegedly hidden sample in Vogue, but this is a lawsuit of a different order. Her MDNA tour stopped in St. Petersburg, Russia on August 9, and Madonna had big plans for her performance. She used the stage to address new laws in Russia that ban so-called gay/lesbian ‘propaganda’ or promotion. After speaking out against this law and the homophobic mentality behind it, Madonna is being sued by Russian anti-gay groups for over $10 million. She has, apparently, corrupted their youth. Deets inside.
The HuffPost has the story:
Anti-gay groups in Russia have sued Madonna for more than $10 million for “moral damage suffered by St. Petersburg residents” during a recent concert in the city, according to Reuters and a report from Ria Novosti, Russia’s state news agency.
Alexander Pochuyev, a lawyer representing one of the suing parties, told Ria Novosti that attendees of the concert and those who have seen videos of her performance have suffered “psychological stress and emotional shock” because of her “promotion of homosexuality.” Pochuyev also said that the pop star “trampled down” an Orthodox cross.
According to Human Rights Watch, the parliament of St. Petersburg earlier this year passed a law that bans “propaganda of sodomy, lesbianism, bisexualism and transgenderism, and pedophilia to minors.”
In March, Madonna called the law a “ridiculous atrocity” and said on her Facebook page that she’d speak about it during her upcoming show…
“Maybe someone does not see the link but after Madonna’s concert maybe some boy becomes gay, some girl becomes lesbian, fewer children are born as a result and this big country cannot defend its borders – for me it causes moral suffering,” Alexei Kolotkov, one of the people who filed the suit, said, according to Reuters.
The gay community in Russia has suffered a series of setbacks recently. Moscow, Russia’s capital and largest city, last week banned gay pride parades for 100 years.
Read more here. And check out this video of Madonna at the show. ‘Speak about it,’ she surely did:
Now I don’t know how a case like this can hold up in court, but the suit is definitely popping off. Some people have suggested that artists should adjust their performances, depending on the country in which they’re performing. Was Madonna right to make this move? I don’t always like when celebrities try to take a promote a political stance, but Madonna is more than just a celebrity and I can understand how she might (and maybe even should) assume the responsibility of speaking out against discrimination.
Love this woman, her talent, courage, beauty, humanity, and balls..she rocks she is the only one that actually walks the walk..the rest are just posing and talk…….you rock madonna you are the one and only forever
The way I see it… sure, Madonna can speak her mind however she sees fit – however, she knew that she was doing something illegal in that country and she shouldn’t be surprised if there are consequences. It really isn’t protesting if you’re not taking any risks by speaking your mind. $10 mil is obviously very steep, but if she broke the law of that land (knowingly, at that!) she should face some consequences.
Hopefully some good will come of this and give others courage to change the laws… I can’t believe they can ban something for 100 years going forward – that’s crazy!
Those poor, corrupted people! How dare she come in there and screw them all up for life!! Now they’ll all be gay and no more babies will be born! Awfulness!!! lol…