Soprano defends Robbie’s rude gesture

The Russian soprano Aida Garifullina, who sang alongside Robbie Williams at the World Cup opening ceremony, has defended the star over an offensive gesture he made at the event.

Williams stuck his middle finger up at the camera when leaving the pitch, interpreted as a response to critics who said he should not have accepted the invitation to perform in front of Russian president Vladimir Putin.

The British performer potentially faces arrest and a fine under Russia’s administrative code.

But Garifullina, who performed Angels with Williams, said Russian fans would not want the singer to be punished. She said: “He should not get into trouble. The Russian people all love him so much. We get crazy about Robbie’s music when he comes to Moscow. Maybe next time we’ll do Party Like A Russian! (Robbie’s Putin-taunting single)”

The Vienna State Opera soloist, who has 500,000 Instagram followers, said she wanted to release a duet with Williams. “When we were backstage afterwards, Robbie said we should record a song together,” she said. “We would be like Freddie Mercury and Montserrat Caballe.”