In a new interview with Yuriy Dudy, Ivan Dorn addressed the topic of his scandalous statement 8.5 years ago, when he called Russia and Ukraine "brothers." The artist admitted that he uttered the key phrases carelessly, but at the same time explained his context and the origin of his views.
Dorn said that after those words, he started having serious problems: concerts were canceled, journalists worked against him, and he felt constant pressure and condemnation. "It was scary. There was a feeling that every dog was offended by you...", the musician described the emotional reaction of society.
The artist clarified that he was ready to “rephrase a lot of things,” but in the end emphasized that “I wouldn’t say it any other way.” He explained that his life experience — being born in Chelyabinsk, moving to Slavutych in 1991, and being raised in a Russian-speaking environment — shaped his personal position. Dorn also mentioned that he has relatives in Bashkortostan and spent his childhood there until he was 16.
The interview touched on the role of the artist in society: Dorn spoke about the pressure of expectations of the "ideal citizen" and the difficulty of taking a public position on a politically sensitive topic. The conversation with Dudem takes the form of personal explanations and the artist's attempt to resume dialogue with the audience after a long public reaction to his previous words.
