“An amputee” and a little girl brought to tears - we tell you what happened at the talent show and why the judging of Renata Litvinova and Vladimir Pozner caused a wide resonance.
What happened?
In the new anniversary (as the ninth was jokingly called) season of the show “Minute of Fame,” the jury included journalist Vladimir Pozner, director Renata Litvinova, actor Sergei Yursky and former Comedy Club resident actor Sergei Svetlakov. Litvinova and Posner criticized the performance of the one-legged dancer without a prosthesis, Evgeniy Smirnov. Posner noted that the performance he saw was a real feat, but asked not to use “prohibited techniques.” In his opinion, after such a dance it is impossible to say “no” to a participant in the show. However, the journalist himself voted against it. Litvinova, in turn, called Smirnov an “amputee” and suggested that he fasten his leg so as not to abuse his disability.
Have there been similar cases in the history of the show?
A week earlier, the judging of “Minute of Glory” brought 8-year-old Vika Starikova from Nizhny Tagil to tears. The girl sang Zemfira's song - Live in your head. Vladimir Pozner expressed doubt that the child understands what he is singing about: “Can a person feel this at eight years old?” When the host of the TV project, Mikhail Boyarsky, asked the crying Vika to retell the meaning of the song, the girl replied: “If you love a person, you don’t need to offend him.” The singer’s friend and video director Renata Litvinova pressed the refusal button with the words: “I protest against this.”
What is the public reaction?
The words of Litvinova and Posner caused mixed assessment even during filming, mainly due to differences of opinion with the rest of the jury. After the show aired the scandalous episodes, two points of view emerged - supporting the straightforwardness of the “Minute of Fame” jury and condemning the cruel judging. However, the main question in the current situation was addressed to Channel One: the program is aired recorded, that is, employees had the opportunity to view the footage and cut out dramatic episodes.
Who opposed the jury's decision?
Musician and composer Maxim Fadeev wrote a post about Vika Starikova’s performance, calling the judges’ attitude towards the child cruel and insensitive: “Of course, there should be criticism, but it should be careful and not evil. In relation to such a little girl - in the form of a game, or soft and fatherly.” Regarding Evgeny Smirnov’s speech, Fadeev noted that “Minute of Fame” is not broadcast live, which means that everything that is broadcast is the position of Channel One: “This is the worst thing, because they make a show out of pain.”
TV presenter Lena Letuchaya spoke out on her Instagram, “calling the judging of the show the poverty of souls”: “And then we wonder why in our country there are people with disabilities are they not considered people?! Yes, because on the First they are called amputees, humiliated, and this is the norm, and it is proudly shown to the whole country! No, I urge you not to feel sorry, but to treat them as equals!”
Sergei Svetlakov, being a member of the “Minute of Fame” jury, even during the filming process did not agree with the assessment of Victoria Starikova’s performance: “This song shows all the talent of this child. At eight years old, she may be more talented than all of us.”
Who supported the position of the “Minute of Fame” jury?
Mikhail Boyarsky expressed gratitude to the jury members for their “sincerity” - according to the presenter, if he were a talent judge, he would not have been able to demonstrate this quality.
During the debate among users on social networks and the media, many supported the position of Litvinova and Posner. “Posner chose his expressions and did not offend anyone! Both in relation to Zhenya and in relation to Victoria”, “Since when did the word disabled become a dirty word in our country? No one insulted anyone, and some saw a double meaning in the jury’s words, for which they themselves were to blame. One gets the impression that those who criticize Posner and Litvinova’s crystal purity are not without sin themselves, but suddenly joined the ranks of those condemning”, “Renata meant that if Evgeniy Smirnov had been with a leg, then they, not knowing about his features, could I would like to evaluate him on an equal basis with everyone else. And here you are creating some kind of madhouse, without delving into the essence.”
How did the scandal end?
After discussions in the media from the directorate of music and entertainment programs“First”, the person responsible for preparing “Minute of Glory” for broadcast was fired. Yuri Aksyuta, chief producer of music and entertainment programs on Channel One, told Meduza: “I’m not ready to comment. You stir up these scandals yourself, and then savor them.”
For several days now in social networks discuss recent episodes of “Minute of Fame.” Internet users speak negatively about the comments of the jury members - actress and director Renata Litvinova, as well as TV presenter Vladimir Pozner. At first, the woman and her colleague did not like the performance of eight-year-old Victoria Starikova. According to celebrities, children should not take part in entertaining TV shows.
In the next episode of the Channel One program, the dance duet number of Alena Shcheneva and Evgeny Smirnov caused an ambiguous assessment of the stars. In 2012, a young man lost his leg. Despite this, he found the strength to go on stage. Smirnov literally amazed the audience by performing the most difficult elements without a prosthesis. The audience reacted very emotionally to his performance.
However, Renata Litvinova and Vladimir Pozner were not so unanimous in their assessment of the work of Smirnov and Shcheneva. They found that Evgeniy’s debut on Channel One could be classified as prohibited techniques. Therefore, Posner voted against the duo. “When a person comes out, like you, without a leg, it’s impossible to say no. There is no defense against this - well, I just don’t have the strength,” the presenter motivated his voice with these words.
Renata Litvinova continued her colleague’s thought. “I know that in our country, of course, it’s difficult to be an amputee... But about the prohibited moments, of course... Or maybe you should fasten this second one, it might not be so obviously missing?” - said the star. However, Renata decided that Evgeniy and Alena should continue to participate in the project.
The statements of the jury members caused a strong reaction on the Internet. Thus, presenter Otar Kushanashvili reproached Renata Litvinova for snobbery and criticized her paintings. According to the man, the actress and director can hardly be called a moral authority.
“Renata is colorful like a Buranovskaya grandmother, she was invited to be weird, and she’s happy to try. But if she is a normal jury member, then I am the reincarnation of Arno Babajanyan,” shared Kushanashvili.
// Photo: Still from the “Minute of Glory” program
The scandalous blogger Lena Miro also expressed her opinion about Litvinova’s position. The girl, who built her career on harsh statements about celebrities, did not restrain herself in relation to Renata. According to Miro, Litvinova “pounced like a kite on an eight-year-old child.” Lena also stood up for Victoria Starikova.
“She has so much purity, so much sincerity, so much courage. A little girl - alone, at the piano, in a huge hall in front of the jury and a crowd of spectators - sings. He sings, putting his whole pure soul into the words. She sings, full of inspiration and hope. And what does he get in response? “I internally protest against this!” – Litvinov cruelly throws it in the girl’s face,” writes Miro.
Famous bloggers were joined by other Internet users. Thus, journalist and teacher at Moscow State University Anna Danilova stood up for Evgeny Smirnov and criticized the jury members for their outdated views.
“They say here that Posner ran into Zhenya, saying that no leg equals a prohibited move. But then the jury of the competition was cooler. Renata Litvinova asked something along the lines of maybe somehow fastening the other leg so that it wouldn’t be a prohibited move and wouldn’t be so conspicuous. Let's remember this. This is Moscow, Russia, the 21st century,” the woman noted.
// Photo: Still from the “Minute of Glory” program
The journalist’s point of view was supported by mother of many children and director Olga Sinyaeva. She is outraged by the statements addressed to Smirnov. "Amputee Man." Tell me, who is the amputee here? In life there are many very smart and reasonable people to whom God gave talent, knowledge and high IQ, but we must acquire minds, hearts and souls and give them to God upon leaving this life. Some will have to return...” Sinyaeva wrote on one of her social networks.
Producer Maxim Fadeev also could not remain indifferent to the scandal that broke out. Dancer Evgeny Smirnov starred in the video for his single “Together,” recorded together with Nargiz Zakirova. The man categorically disagrees with the statements of the jury members. According to Fadeev, Smirnov’s fate is not indifferent to him.
Other viewers continued to actively comment on what happened on the air of the program. “Something strange is happening in Russian show business”, “What a shame, what a disgrace... I simply don’t have enough words”, “The cruel judging caused a public outcry - and for good reason!”, “I was very disappointed after watching”, “I think that the jury members crossed the line,” social media users discussed.
At the same time, some fans of “Minute of Fame,” on the contrary, supported Renata Litvinova and Vladimir Pozner. In their opinion, TV show participants do not need to put pressure on the pity of the jury members. Among the defenders of the actress and director was Yuri Loza.
“Many people criticize Renata Litvinova, who at the “Minute of Fame” show at first did not support an eight-year-old girl, and then called the dancer without a leg an “amputee” and advised him to wear a prosthesis. I don’t watch this performance, but I specifically found these numbers on the Internet and their discussion by the jury members. To be honest, I still don’t understand what the “accusers” are clinging to. First: Zemfira’s song was forced on the girl only because her friend, who starred in the video for this song, was on the jury. Even adults don’t understand this text, but here is an eight-year-old child!.. Second: an amputee is official name people with an amputated limb or limbs, and not an offensive nickname,” the artist believes.
// Photo: Still from the “Minute of Glory” program
The young man said that after the accident his leg was amputated, but he did not give up dancing. However, the jury members did not like the number. Smirnov was accused of using his position.
Vladimir Pozner
There are forbidden tricks: when a person comes out, like you, without a leg, it is impossible to say “no”. On the one hand, this is a great feat, a person was able to overcome what others cannot overcome. On the other hand, it really bothers me that such techniques are used in art. I am, of course, delighted, but I will vote against it.
Renata Litvinova even suggested that the contestant “fasten his leg” so as not to exploit this topic.
Renata Litvinova
I know that it is difficult for an amputee to live in our country,” Litvinova said. - Probably this main reason, according to which you should be in the project. Maybe you should fasten a second one? She might not be so obviously absent, right? To avoid exploiting this topic.
The words of the jury members hurt young man, and he gave them a harsh answer.
“Of course, I apologize, I’m not exploiting anything. I have been a dancer throughout my life, and if there are any additional elements, then this will be just the trick. I dance the way I live!” said Evgeniy Smirnov.
A little earlier, Pozner and Litvinova criticized the 8-year-old girl Victoria Starikova. She performed a song by Zemfira, whose work she was not familiar with. This became a reason for criticism. As a result, the child was brought to tears.
The behavior of the jury members outraged the blogosphere and became one of the most discussed topics.
Lena Miro
The vile woman simply trampled on the innocent child, driving him into feelings of shame and guilt. It’s not clear, really, why? Because the girl dared to sing the song that Ramazanova wrote for her Renata? Or maybe this is how the menopause approached Litvinova? However, in my opinion, this woman is always in menopause. Fuck her. The hunchback, as they say, is the grave. It’s bad that the child was humiliated. Too early the man went through his first public humiliation in his life. This can traumatize the girl for a long time. Creatures, of course. Stupid, soulless creatures...()
What is this “Minute of Fame” for? Entertainment or mass culture? Is Renata callous? Is Posner cynical? Man to man, fundamentally, is hostility. Covert, obvious, different. Today there is hatred. Culture is a way of existence that humanity has chosen for the purpose of self-preservation. (S. Freud) So that they don’t kill each other. Like ours, in Lately, it turns out: to sympathize and have compassion in order to save? By all appearances, it’s not very good...()
But Internet users had questions not only about the jury members. The parents who threw their child into the millstones of show business are also to blame.
I don't want to say bad things. It seems to me that I understand, on the one hand, when parents want fame, fame for their child. Especially if he is really talented. But still, is it worth exposing the baby to stress and taking away his childhood? Children do not yet fully understand what is happening, but find themselves caught in the merciless millstones of show business... In my opinion, a lot has already been said about this and there are examples. Michael Jackson, how old has he been performing, who remembers? He later opened up in an interview that he was interested in children because his childhood was taken away from him. Yes, he gained wild popularity and became a pop music icon for many years, but did this bring him happiness? Maybe we shouldn’t have thrown him into these millstones so early and it would have been better? ()
This is an ordinary episode, the occurrence of which the girl’s parents, sending her to big stage first channel, we must be aware. Jury members cannot praise all children and say yes to everyone. I am sure that the girl’s performance on the show is entirely the initiative and responsibility of her parents. Well, an 8-year-old child won’t say on his own, like, mom and dad, so and so, I chose a song and I’m going to sing it at the “Minute of Fame.” I don't believe in this one. It was the parents who chose the song. It was such a move: to present an emotional little girl with a very adult song. Good move, but the child is in tears. I don’t understand why Posner and Litvinova are to blame for this...()
Litvinova, who was a member of the jury of the show, advised the one-legged participant in the program, Evgeny Smirnov, who performed the dance, to “fasten” his limb so as not to exploit the theme of disability. When another jury member, Vladimir Pozner, spoke out against Smirnov’s participation in the program, Litvinova said that the difficult situation of “amputee people” in Russia was the main reason why the young man should remain in the project. “Maybe you should strap on a second one. It may not be so obviously absent. So as not to exploit this topic,” she suggested.
Posted by Elena Letuchaya-Anashenkova (@elenapegas) Mar 9, 2017 at 12:15 PST
Letuchaya called the behavior of the jury members “poverty of souls.” “An amputee?!” Are you seriously?! Is this on “First”?! What I saw on the air of “Minute of Glory” in relation to Zhenya Smirnov and Victoria Starikova is unacceptable! And then we wonder why in our country people with disabilities are not considered people?! Yes, because on “First” they are called amputees, humiliated, and this is the norm, and they proudly show it to the whole country! No, I urge you not to feel sorry, but to treat them as equals!” - wrote Letuchaya, adding that the “talented and cheerful” Evgeniy Smirnova “is worthy of respect, unlike many sitting on the jury of this competition.”
I am very interested in spending this time with you. “You will get to know me better, and I will get to know you,” Renata began her speech. -Can I be your teacher today? This is about the question of why I am doing this. I really like it. Teachers have such great karma... They always go to heaven.
There were a lot of “students” in the hall - it turned out that the schoolgirls idolized Renata. During the performance, one of them suddenly climbed onto the stage to give flowers, but seeing the actress so close, she could not cope with her emotions and began to cry bitterly, covering her face with her hands, so Renata Litvinova had to console her in front of the entire audience.
The scene ended with the girl taking out her phone and starting to take a selfie with her favorite director. “Are you going to take pictures with me now?!” - Renata was surprised, but did not refuse in order to somehow reassure her young fan and escort her from the stage.
After the performance, Renata decided to get to know other spectators better. She invited them to come to the microphone and ask a few questions. The same schoolchildren began lining up; many had come specially from other cities for her performance.
They wanted to know everything about Renata’s favorite artists, go up on stage and take a photo (this time Renata didn’t allow it), complimented her brilliant outfit (“Your dress is so beautiful! But you are all beautiful!”), asked whether it was worth do it theatrical art if they are unsure of themselves. Some honestly admitted that they “plunged into her work recently and have only just begun their journey,” others that they “have loved her since childhood.”
Older fans offered their help in working on new projects (“for free!”), and one girl asked what she needed to do to have breakfast with Renata and Zemfira. “Why do you need this? If you want to eat, then why do you need two more bodies nearby?” - Renata was surprised. “I want to gain access to these “bodies” and find out their opinion about my music,” the composer insisted.
Before this, for almost two hours, Renata told the audience her biography, diluted with funny stories from her life and film clips. About how she left a man’s cloak in the hallway to convince guests that her father had not left the family, but was only absent for a short time; about her mother’s suitors, one of whom turned out to be a wedding swindler; about the short green dress that saved her from failure while defending her diploma at VGIK; about meeting Kira Muratova, about the first roles, filming " The last fairy tale Rita" and creative union with Zemfira; about what patriotism means to her and why Russia is a “territory of suffering”...
During your speech, you called Russia a “territory of suffering” - a country created so that great works that could go down in history were born here. Is it possible to just be happy man on an earth that is made for suffering?
- I have this version that up there, someone is still interested in receiving new outstanding texts, but art is not born from happiness, you know... Still, a creative person is, first of all, a suffering person. I assure you that if you are happy, you will never have the desire to sit down and write some great tragedy. But here, of course, there is happiness: my metaphor about great Russian writers and poets cannot be turned into criticism. I love my homeland and the Russian language, I live here, work and never leave. And I also write my own texts. For example, I have now written a play for the Moscow Art Theater. Chekhov’s “The North Wind” and am preparing it for production as a director.
- You once said that Russia is personified for you beautiful women. Is this still the case?
- It seems to me that yes. We are a very feminine country. In Russia there are always men in the main positions, but the country is still ruled feminine power. Well, there are more of us. We have such a big demographic imbalance! And, in the end, we must be taken into account...
- How would you describe Russian women?
- We have such amazing women! In Russia, women are very strong, very beautiful, very kind. Women who are ready to pull for three, four, five - if necessary. Until they fall. This is a sacrifice that is inherent only to a Russian woman. This sets her apart [from everyone else]. This, of course, is her greatness and, perhaps, her mistake... She can be exceptional in both a positive and a negative sense.
-Can a woman ever lead the country?
- We probably haven’t reached this point yet historically. Even in America they didn’t elect a woman...
In fact, of course, I am for women, but this is a very difficult path. For a woman to lead here [in Russia]... What is a woman? All the same, she is dependent on the “husband - family - children” connections. This is a very complex process and cannot be solved so easily. It must come and be absorbed in the blood.
- Why did you agree to join the jury of the “Minute of Fame” show?
- I agreed to go there because it was interesting to me: we agreed with Vladimir Vladimirovich Pozner that if he goes there, then I will go too.
- How interested are you in what is happening there?
- On the recordings of the program I see what is called Russia, all our territories.
And I find it very interesting to look at them. There are absolutely outstanding rooms, amazing, amazing people…
Your reaction to the performances of the girl from Nizhny Tagil, Vika Starikova, caused a lot of discussion on the Internet. Now that time has passed, you still feel that " internal protest» ?
- There are cases when parents’ ambitions drive them, and this is some kind of diabolical thing. Because if a child is refused, this can cause him permanent trauma. I believe that this should not be done. This is some kind of big mistake parents make for the sake of their pride. And, of course, I am against the pride of parents who bring their small, defenseless children in order to amuse their [self-esteem]. The child must get stronger, he must come to this. You can’t drag him into a cruel competition, no matter what motives motivate them, you need to take care of him, because he is still a young creature. On the other hand, there are, for example, circus performers in the show who start their careers quite early. There are exceptions, but this is the exception.
You voted for dancer Evgeny Smirnov to continue participating in the project, when it seemed that you were against him performing on the show...
- When people come who, by the will of fate... a person has no leg... I consider them winners. These are very courageous, amazing people. I don’t understand how they can participate in the competition, because they have already won. They emerged victorious over this entire appalling situation in our country with people with disabilities... In every sense. You can't imagine how much pain this is. And if a person has won all this and ended up on this show... I just immediately award him first place! It’s such a pain for me to evaluate or not evaluate it.
Some took my words as if I did not allow people with disabilities to participate in the competition, but on the contrary, I put them in first place. These are the winning heroes. I don't understand how they can be judged - it's unfair. What they did cannot be included in any competition. They are so above all this. Therefore, if you need my opinion, then these people are my first priority.