In a conversation captured for the NeOrwell YouTube channel, actor Ivan Okhlobystin argued that the call to persecute TV host Ivan Urgant should pause after a controversial black-plaid post. Okhlobystin suggested that the online backlash against Urgant appeared to spread quickly and with little restraint, noting that the incident had become a flash point for public debate. He remarked that Urgant is widely recognized as European-minded and liberal, and he pointed to the company Urgant keeps as evidence of his allegedly permissive stance. Yet Okhlobystin asserted that drawing harsh conclusions about Urgant as a public figure is not appropriate and that such sweeping judgments do not reflect his larger body of work or his position as a presenter. He emphasized that this is not the moment to treat a fellow artist as an enemy based on a single post and a moment of online friction. [Citation: NeOrwell interview, YouTube channel]
According to Okhlobystin, Urgant should not be equated with other artists who voice critique about Russia’s actions. In this framing, he expressed the view that Russians should refrain from aggressive public campaigns against Urgant for his views, arguing that such a dynamic harms the broader cultural landscape rather than clarifying the conversation. He described Urgant as a capable and engaging host whose talents deserve fair consideration rather than punitive treatment. [Citation: NeOrwell interview, YouTube channel]
Okhlobystin warned that the culture of harassment and denunciation threatens professionals across the arts. He suggested that if the practice continues, the tide of public pressure could circle back toward those who initiate it. The artist urged restraint and a focus on constructive dialogue, proposing that professional integrity should prevail over reflexive retaliation. His stance was framed as a plea for moderation, emphasizing that the arts thrive when critics and creators can engage without devolving into scorched-earth tactics. [Citation: NeOrwell interview, YouTube channel]
Earlier remarks from Okhlobystin touched on why prominent public figures make choices about their presence in Russia, including suggestions that influential personalities consider the environment they operate in. While these comments drew sharp responses from some quarters, the conversation highlighted ongoing tensions between freedom of expression and national sentiment within contemporary cultural discourse. [Citation: NeOrwell interview, YouTube channel]