Normally I have an almost guru-like appreciation for long-time, well-respected journalist, CNN’s Christiane Amanpour. However, in her interview with Russian foreign minister Sergey Lavrov she takes a terrible hairpin turn.
What’s a Pussy Riot You Ask?
Before quoting Amanpour and Lavrov we need to define what Pussy Riot is, as the term is pivotal to what she asks him in regard to our U.S. presidential race.
In August 2011, a group of approximately 11 women ranging in age from their early twenties to their early thirties got together to form a musical band of sorts.
The band called themselves Pussy Riot and were based in Russia. The motivation to form the band came out of a rebellion toward their Russian leader, President Vladimir Putin.
The group considered Putin to be a dictator which reflected the feelings of many citizens in the Russian nation. Pussy Riot were known for staging provocative, unscheduled, and unauthorized performances in very unusual public places.
The performances were filmed and made into music videos, then posted to the internet. Pussy Riot’s song themes included feminism, LGBT rights, and opposition to the Russian Orthodox Church and its leaders. Many felt the heads of the church and Putin were too close and that in fact it was Putin who was in charge of the large and powerful religious institution.
Indeed, its church elders showed far too much support for Putin during his election campaign. The head of the Russian Orthodox Church, Patriarch Kirill I, said the Pussy Riot performers were doing the work of the devil.
The WTF? Interview Moment
So, fresh on the heels of the crude, sexist leaked tape in which Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump is heard saying disgusting things about women, Amanpour asked the Russian foreign minister, Sergey Lavrov, the following question:
“Russia had its own Pussy Riot moment? What do you think of Donald Trump‘s pussy riot moment?”
At first Lavrov looks like he’s going to back off of the question, but then gives this answer:
“There are so many pussies around your presidential campaign on both sides that I prefer not to comment about this.”
Apparently Amanpour loved the remark as she’s seen laughing heartily and confessing:
“I wasn’t expecting that.”
It’s safe to say this presidential campaign has had much that nobody was expecting.
Featured image by WITNESS via Flickr/CC license 2.0
