John Travolta discussed America's ‘Russophobic hysteria’ during paid Russia trip: Putin’s press secretary
Composite image of John Travolta (Georges Biard) and Russian Federation President Vladimir Putin (Sputnik/AFP / Alexey NIKOLSKY)

Actor John Travolta was lionized by "elite members of President Vladimir Putin’s court" during a recent trip to Russia, The Daily Beast reported Saturday.


"Cameras captured Travolta, the Kremlin’s 'guest of honor' on the red carpet, and paparazzi snapped him, his head shaved, his beard not, smiling along with Russian Presidential Spokesman Dmitry Peskov and 'pop king' Filipp Kirkorov, a long-time buddy of U.S. President Donald Trump and his progeny," The Beast explained.

Peskov spoke to reporters about dining with Travolta.

“We discussed the reasons behind the Russophobic hysteria heated up by the U.S. political circles, which nobody can explain,” Peskov said.

The actor was reportedly paid to burnish Russia's image.

"Travolta follows a long line of Kremlin-paid Hollywood celebrities attending functions here," The Beast noted. "The same 'Federaciya' foundation that famously paid Sharon Stone and Kevin Costner for singing 'Blueberry Hill' with former KGB chief Putin back in 2010 organized Travolta’s trip as well as American singer Michael Bolton’s visit to Moscow."

"No matter how derided or mocked Travolta was back home after reports about his obsession with masseuses or for feuding with his Scientology friends, here in Moscow leading Kremlin officials were proud to be seen asking for his political advice," The Beast added.

Read the full report.