In a candid discussion aired through a YouTube interview, Ruslan Masyukov, a contestant from the fifth season of the Star Factory, revealed that the promised second prize—a car—never materialized. The exchange occurred during a talk with Yana Churikova, where Masyukov recalled the ongoing questions about the vehicle and described how his hopes for the prize gradually faded. He noted that after the show, he actively sought confirmations from multiple people connected to the production, yet no definite answer ever came. He stated plainly that the car did not reach him, and he never received the promised reward.
As the conversation unfolded, Masyukov recounted attempts to contact Maksim Fadeev and Yuri Aksyute, hoping for clarity about the status of the prize. The singer emphasized that the question kept resurfacing in conversations among the production circle, but responses remained elusive. The lack of a definitive answer left him uncertain and eventually fatigued by the back-and-forth. He described how the pursuit of the prize consumed energy that could have been directed toward his music and career, underscoring how important that promised reward felt at the time.
According to Masyukov, the producers seemed to refer him between themselves without offering a concrete resolution. He admitted that the situation culminated in no fulfillment of the promised car, a detail that he could not overlook in reflecting on his Star Factory experience. The absence of the vehicle stood out as a notable unresolved thread from the program, contributing to a broader sense of unfulfilled expectations among some participants.
In related reflections, Dmitry Koldun recently spoke of a similar outcome regarding post-show compensation. He recalled promises of money after Star Factory, noting that a payment did not arrive in his case either. Back in 2006, producer Viktor Drobysh reportedly pledged one hundred thousand rubles to each of the five finalists after the show ended. Meanwhile, Koldun mentioned a collectible guitar that had been awarded to him and that he still uses. These anecdotes illustrate a pattern of unfulfilled promises tied to the show, as discussed by several former participants.
Earlier discussions also touched on the dynamics behind the show itself. Alexey Khvorostyan, another former participant, disclosed in an interview with Yana Churikova that he had secured his place in the project through his own initiative. Vlad Sokolovsky offered his perspective on how influence and access within the production could affect outcomes. These accounts contribute to a broader narrative about the Star Factory experience, highlighting how personal agency, industry connections, and program mechanics intersect in the memories of the participants.
There have been additional, broader remarks about the era and how public figures associated with it were perceived. A notable mention involved Alla Pugacheva’s Cyprus shopping trip, which drew significant public attention and ensuing commentary. The episode serves as a reminder of how moments tied to the show and its surrounding celebrity culture can reflect on the participants long after the cameras stop rolling.