Charli XCX pledges support to Ukraine after attending party with alleged links to Russia at Berlin Film Festival
Charli XCX has issued a statement after it was reported she attended a party at the Berlin Film Festival with alleged ties to the Russian regime.
The Grammy-winner was in attendance at the Berlin Film Festival for the international premiere of her new film, The Moment, which sees her play a fictionalised version of herself, in a mockumentary format, as she rides the wave of Brat summer.
Following the premiere of the film, which is set to arrive in UK cinemas on February 20th, United 24 Media, a Ukrainian government-run media platform, alleged that she had attended an afterparty held by the Russian model and DJ Anastasia Shevtsova, who performs as Petlt.
According to United 24 Media, Shevtsova is the daughter of Zhanna Shevtsova, who founded the Traditsiya foundation, which it alleges “operates in temporarily occupied territories of Ukraine”.
They also alleged that Zhanna Shevtsova made visits to the Donetsk and Luhansk regions in 2024 to show screenings of the documentary Road to a Dream to Ukrainian children. The report claims that the film was produced by the Presidential Fund for Cultural Initiatives.
The United 24 Media report also alleges, “According to those involved, Charli XCX’s team as well as the management of the venue were made aware of the organizers’ background and their reported family connections to structures operating in Russian-occupied territories.”
Now, Charli has since taken to Instagram Stories on February 19th to deny that she had prior knowledge of the alleged Russian regime connections, writing, “For clarity, neither me nor my team were aware of any of the alleged affiliations around the party in Berlin.”
Charli continued, “I would like to take this opportunity to say that I stand against the atrocities committed by the Russian goverment in Ukraine and I stand in solidarity with the people of Ukraine.”
The ‘Apple’ singer signed off her message by posting the Ukrainian flag.
Anastasia Shevtsova has also released a statement on Instagram, writing, “My family live in Russia, Belarus, and Ukraine. The current tragedy affects me personally and deeply. I would never wish harm, violence or suffering upon anyone. What is happening is heartbreaking for millions of families, including mine.”
Shevtsova went on to write that she has “lived and worked” in Europe for the last four years, “focusing exclusively on my artistic work”. She added, “I am not involved in politics or any activities connected to the conflict.”
Her statement acknowledged that “emotions are intense and that many people are carrying immense pain”, but pleaded with people “to be judged by my own actions and values, not by assumptions about people around me.”
The Russian DJ concluded, “My work is about art, connection, and humanity. I remain committed to those principles.”
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