Charli XCX has responded to backlash after she attended an afterparty for her mockumentary, The Moment, which allegedly had ties to Russia.
READ MORE: ‘The Moment’ review: Charli XCX’s messy mockumentary will live on in memes and TikTok clips
The event took place in Berlin, shortly after the Aidan Zamiri-directed film had its premiere in the city just a few days earlier.
After the event, it was reported that the afterparty that Charli attended was hosted by someone who allegedly had ties to the Russian government.
In response, the singer shared an update with fans and distanced herself from the controversy.
“Hi everyone. For clarity, neither me nor my team were aware of any of the alleged affiliations around the party in Berlin,” she wrote on Instagram Stories.
“I would like to take this opportunity to say I stand against the atrocities committed by the Russian government in Ukraine and I stand in solidarity with the people of Ukraine.”
Charli xcx says she was unaware that a ‘The Moment’ afterparty she attended had alleged Russian affiliations:
“I would like to take this opportunity to say I stand against the atrocities committed by the Russian government in Ukraine and I stand in solidarity with the people of… pic.twitter.com/IfcS9jDA8D
— Pop Base (@PopBase) February 19, 2026
As reported by outlets United24 Media and Billboard, the party took place after The Moment had its international premiere at the Berlinale Film Festival on Saturday (February 14).
The event was hosted by DJ and Russian model Anastasia Shevtsova, who the outlets claim is the daughter of Zhanna Shevtsova. The latter is president of the Russian government-funded Traditsiya Foundation.
Anastasia has also distanced herself from the controversy, both in terms of her political views and any potential ties to the conflict taking place since Russia launched a full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022.
“My family members live in Russia, Belarus, and Ukraine,” she wrote on Instagram, also telling followers that she has lived and worked outside of Russia for the past four years.
“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.”
The Moment is being distributed by A24, and is situated amid the global hysteria around Charli’s 2024 album ‘Brat’ and its subsequent tour.
It acts as a satirical comment on the realities of the mainstream music industry, and was made by using real footage from the ‘Brat’ tour alongside fictional backstage scenes. Joining the cast are Alexander Skarsgård, Rachel Sennott, Hailey Benton Gates, Jamie Demetriou, Kate Berlant, Rosanna Arquette and Kylie Jenner.
It arrives in cinemas today (Friday February 20), and has been given a three-star review from NME.
“Throughout, XCX gamely plays a more irritable and conflicted version of herself. Her dry line readings suit the material and she really shines in a horribly passive-aggressive counter with super-influencer Kylie Jenner, who advises her to level up while she has the chance,” it read.
“The Moment is too protracted and tonally uneven to work as a great mockumentary, but it has plenty of meme-worthy moments that TikTok will lap up. If that sounds like faint praise, well, just remember it was enough to make Emerald Fennell’s Saltburn a sensation back in 2023.”
Charli has also provided the score for the new Wuthering Heights film starring Jacob Elordi and Margot Robbie, and has also released a companion album for the release. You can find the full tracklist here, which includes a collaboration with Sky Ferreira.
The album was given a four-star review from NME and described as “delicious gothic pop for a winter of yearning”.
The post Charli XCX responds to backlash to attending ‘The Moment’ afterparty with links to Russia appeared first on NME.
