The ex-wife of rapper Guf, Aiza-Liluna Ai, claimed she exchanged private messages with Pavel Durov, the founder of VKontakte and Telegram. He reportedly disclosed details of their conversation in an interview on the Rule 34 podcast, which was shared on YouTube. The revelation centers on a moment when Durov allegedly reached out to Ai as a friend on VKontakte long ago. She recalls his message asking a simple, direct question about her authenticity. The exchange, described by Ai herself in the interview, included Durov asking, Are you real? and her recalling his friendly, somewhat surprised response. This anecdote sparked discussion about the possibility that a well-known tech mogul may have engaged with a user on a social network in ways that blur the lines between public personas and private messaging.
The hosts of the podcast pressed Ai on whether suspicious accounts or fake profiles had ever reached out to Durov through dating apps like Tinder, a platform known for its challenges with account verification. Ai did not provide a precise timeline for when the VKontakte message occurred, but she noted that the interaction happened at a time when Durov was still actively managing VKontakte. As of the interview, Ai is not verified on VKontakte, which adds another layer to the broader discussion about online identity and authenticity in social networks.
Historical context helps frame the discussion. Durov led VKontakte up to 2014, a period that coincided with Ai’s eight-year marriage to Guf, ending in the same year. The interview offers a rare glimpse into the private communications that can exist behind the public faces of technology founders and entertainment figures. While the account resonates with fans and followers who wonder about the personal side of tech leadership, it remains a personal recollection rather than an officially documented record. The conversation underscores the enduring curiosity about how real these digital connections are when real names and silhouettes intersect in the online world.
In a broader sense, the piece touches on the ongoing discussion about how leaders in technology navigate public platforms and private correspondences. It also touches on the evolving landscape of social networks in the Middle East, where figures like Durov have been linked to ambitious proposals involving financial technologies and regional cooperation. A prior report suggested that, after conversations with the Emir of Dubai, Durov might play a role in initiatives that envision a multi-functional platform for the Middle East, including ideas about a unified cryptocurrency to complement regional economic activities. These conversations highlight a larger trend of tech visionaries engaging with policymakers and business leaders in ways that could influence future digital ecosystems, even though such plans may or may not come to fruition. The interview itself remains a snapshot of speculation, conversation, and a hint of possibility as technology continues to intersect with politics, finance, and daily online life.