Russian MP thinks Apple’s free U2 album was ‘gay propaganda’
A Russian politician has claimed that Apple’s decision to give iTunes users a free U2 album was a ploy to make people turn gay.
The tech company caused controversy last year when it decided to add the band’s album Songs of Innocence to users’ iTunes libraries without permission, as part of an iPhone launch stunt.
However, one Russian MP has a theory about why the company – whose CEO Tim Cook is openly gay – decided to give out the album.
Alexander Starovoitov, a member of the LDPR party, claims the company was attempting to spread ‘gay propaganda’ in order to make users gay.
According to newspaper Izvestia, he has hired a lawyer to sue for damages – because the later physical album cover depicts two shirtless men. The cover was not actually present on the iTunes release.
He said:”I, like many Russian citizens, own an iPhone. In 2014, the band U2 forced my phone to download their new album. Their cover album depicts two men, which in my view, depicts the expression of a non-traditional sexual relationship to each other.
“It should be noted these songs could not be removed from the phone.”
However, some have mocked the politician for believing that U2 – who are not known for their large gay following – would turn anyone gay.
One Twitter user joked: “Russia truly is clueless about gay interests”.
Meanwhile, a video emerged earlier this month of the Russian Army marching to Aqua’s camp classic Barbie Girl.
The soliders chant: “I’m a Barbie girl, in a Barbie world, life in plastic, it’s fantastic!
“You can brush my hair, undress me everywhere! Imagination, life is your creation.”
