Russian actress Yana Poplavskaya has backed calls for authorities to inspect the song lyrics of American rapper Kanye West ahead of his scheduled concerts in Saint Petersburg.
Poplavskaya, best known for playing Little Red Riding Hood in a classic Soviet film, expressed outrage over West's music in a post published on her personal Telegram channel.
The actress supported demands for a formal check after taking issue with offensive lines in the artist's songs. In particular, she highlighted lyrics in which West's lyrical protagonist claims to have engaged in an intimate relationship with a Russian girl for Ukraine.
Comparing the performer unfavourably to Michael Jackson, Poplavskaya wrote that West lacked Jackson's exceptional voice, stage movement, and charisma. She described West as a loud rapper whose vocals were more appropriately compared to the cawing of a crow, adding that his compositions should be called tracks rather than songs.
Concert controversy in Saint Petersburg
West is scheduled to perform two concerts in Saint Petersburg on October 10 and 11, 2026. The upcoming appearances in Russia's second-largest city have generated significant public attention and ticket interest.
Poplavskaya criticized the intense excitement surrounding the rapper's planned shows, comparing the public reaction to idol worship of the West. She further characterized the widespread hype as a failure of Russia's domestic policy.
West, an American hip-hop musician and producer who has won 24 Grammy Awards, is widely recognized for his influence on popular music while also generating frequent controversy. Poplavskaya is a Russian media figure who achieved fame as a child actress starring in the 1977 Soviet television movie About the Red Little Riding Hood.
Proposed meeting with Vladimir Putin
The call to scrutinize West's lyrics follows earlier responses from the State Duma, the lower house of the Russian parliament, regarding the American rapper's stated desire to meet with Russian President Vladimir Putin.
State Duma Deputy Vitaly Milonov addressed the potential encounter between the performer and the Russian leadership. Milonov stated that the head of state himself would determine whether a meeting with the American artist was necessary.
