Kathrine Frich
The incident is especially explosive given Russia’s aggressive anti-LGBTQ+ laws.
The incident is especially explosive given Russia’s aggressive anti-LGBTQ+ laws.
Russia’s 80th Victory Day celebration took an unexpected and embarrassing turn when a giant commemorative mosaic displayed images of American gay adult film actor Billy Herrington, sparking widespread ridicule online.
A Tribute to Heroes Gone Wrong
Commissioned by a local businessman in Zheleznogorsk, Kursk region, the mosaic was intended to honor World War II veterans and current Russian soldiers fighting in Ukraine.
Instead, it accidentally featured several images of Herrington, known for his career in gay adult cinema.
A Telegram User Spotted the Error
Social activist Ruslan Tsyganov identified the photos and exposed the mishap on his Telegram channel.
The mosaic had already been unveiled to the public, but local officials scrambled to take it down after the scandal erupted.
The Blame Game: “A Schoolboy Sent the Photo”
The mosaic’s creator, Anton Polsky, claimed the images were mistakenly included after he received them from a 16-year-old schoolboy.
Polsky admitted he never verified the photo’s origin before printing it at large scale.
Police Involve Teen in “Patriotic Education”
The schoolboy involved is now being “worked on in terms of patriotic education” by local authorities, according to reports.
No criminal charges were mentioned, but the incident is being treated as a serious ideological misstep.
Kremlin’s LGBTQ Crackdown Underscores the Fallout
The incident is especially explosive given Russia’s aggressive anti-LGBTQ+ laws.
Under President Vladimir Putin, “gay propaganda” is banned across books, films, and online content—with violators facing severe penalties.
An Internet Icon, Not a War Hero
Billy Herrington, who passed away in 2018, was a cult figure in gay adult entertainment and internet meme culture.
He had no connection to Russia or its military history, making his unintentional inclusion all the more surreal.
“Victory” in Visual Chaos
The mosaic, initially meant to be a proud public symbol, has now become a national embarrassment.
Critics online have labeled it a symbol of the regime’s incompetence, and a reminder that censorship doesn’t always prevent mistakes.
Public Reaction: Laughter, Memes, and Outrage
Social media across Russia and beyond lit up with memes mocking the Kremlin’s blunder.
Some saw poetic irony in a gay icon appearing in a state-funded tribute under a hyper-conservative regime.