Top Russian propagandist declares sexual harassment allegations mean 'there's no sex in America'
Head of state-run Rossiya Segodnya defended disgraced Hollywood producer Harvey Weinstein
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.One of the Kremlin’s top propagandists has claimed the sexual harassment allegations against big Hollywood names are part of a campaign to remove sex in the US.
Dmitry Kiselyov, head of the state-run Rossiya Segodnya news agency, criticised the public outcry against those accused of sexual assault and harassment, including Harvey Weinstein and Kevin Spacey.
During his weekly talk show on Sunday, Mr Kiselyov said: “I’m categorically against sexual harassment. But this campaign, with brutal seriousness, threatens to destroy the humour in people’s relationships, affecting impulsivity, spontaneity and passion.”
“In America actresses and actors are coming forward one after another with allegations towards some of the brightest figures in Hollywood,” Mr Kiselyov continued, according to a translation by the English-language Moscow Times newspaper.
“There’s no sex in America… The sexual revolution is a thing of the past. Now everything can be seen as dirty harassment.”
Mr Kiselyov, a mouthpiece for Vladimir Putin known for his anti-West and anti-LGBT tirades, suggests the harassment allegations in the US mean “sex is revolting” to Americans.
The propagandist criticised the sympathy levelled at victims of alleged assault and harassment and stated the West is too quick to condemn the accused.
“When it comes to those at whom the finger is pointed, they are being dealt with extrajudicially and immediately,“ he said.
Mr Kiselyev also defended Harvey Weinstein, dismissing sexual assault accusations levelled at the producer from actor Paz de la Huerta, who recently claimed Weinstein raped her twice in New York in 2010.
Ms De la Huerta said she was too afraid to turn Weinstein away from her home when he showed up uninvited.
Mr Kiselyov said sarcastically: “How dare he [rape her], especially when she invited him a second time?”
He also lamented the firing of Kevin Spacey by Netflix, after the House of Cards actor was accused of inappropriate sexual behaviour against men who were underage at the time.
Mr Kiselyov’s comments illustrate attitudes to harassment and assault allegations that are widespread in Russia.
Mikhail Kozyrev, host of Russia’s independent channel TV Rain, questioned why alleged victims had not come forward earlier, despite hesitation being common among survivors for fear of reprisals, among other reasons.
“Why did you stay quiet all of these years?” Mr Kozyrev asked.
“What prevented you at that moment from taking a step back to say, ‘I will never work with this person,’ or ‘Danger’?” he added.