Charli XCX Responds to Reports Linking Berlin Event Organizer to Alleged Russian Affiliations

Charli XCX has publicly addressed reports questioning the background of an organizer involved in a Berlin afterparty connected to her recent film project, stating that neither she nor her team were aware of any alleged ties to Russia.

The issue emerged earlier this week after United24 Media published a report concerning Anastasia Shevtsova, known professionally as Petit, who organized an afterparty following a Berlin screening tied to Charli XCX’s mockumentary project The Moment. According to the outlet, Shevtsova is the daughter of Zhanna Shevtsova, founder of the “Traditsiya” foundation. The report alleged that the foundation has collaborated with Vladimir Putin’s Presidential Fund for Cultural Initiatives on projects in Russian-occupied areas of Ukraine.

United24 Media further claimed that Petit had traveled to territories in Ukraine that have been under Russian occupation since the 2022 invasion. The outlet framed the connections as politically sensitive, given the ongoing war.

In response, Charli XCX issued a statement via her Instagram Stories distancing herself from any knowledge of such affiliations. “For clarity, neither me nor my team were aware of any of the alleged affiliations around the party in Berlin,” she wrote. The artist added that she opposes the actions of the Russian government in Ukraine and stands in solidarity with the Ukrainian people.

Petit also released her own statement on Instagram, emphasizing that her family resides across Russia, Belarus, and Ukraine, and that the war affects her personally. She said she does not support violence or harm and sought to separate herself from allegations of political complicity.

The Berlin event in question followed activities surrounding The Moment, a satirical mockumentary centered on the dynamics of pop stardom and touring culture. The film premiered in the United States in late January and debuted earlier at Sundance. Critics described it as a stylized, exaggerated portrayal of the machinery behind a global pop tour, blending self-awareness with industry critique. The project arrived shortly before the release of Wuthering Heights, a separate film featuring a soundtrack curated by Charli XCX.

While the Berlin afterparty was not an official political event, the controversy reflects the broader sensitivity surrounding cultural figures and any perceived associations with Russian institutions since the invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. In recent years, artists, filmmakers, and performers have faced scrutiny over partnerships, venues, and collaborators with even indirect connections to Russian state-linked entities.

Charli XCX’s statement appears aimed at clarifying that the involvement of Petit in organizing the afterparty did not involve prior knowledge of her alleged family affiliations. There is no indication that the singer had a formal partnership with the organizer beyond the event itself.

The situation underscores the heightened attention placed on international cultural events in Europe, particularly in cities like Berlin that serve as hubs for artists from across the continent. It also highlights the complexities of personal and familial ties across regions affected by the war, where private relationships and public perception can intersect in contentious ways.

As of now, there is no evidence suggesting that Charli XCX had direct engagement with any Russian governmental body or organization linked to the allegations described in the report. Her statement firmly positions her against the Russian government’s actions in Ukraine and emphasizes solidarity with Ukrainians amid the ongoing conflict.

Neither Charli XCX nor Petit have indicated further comment beyond their initial public statements.