As the fast-food business leaves Russia, the sturdy body-positivity activist tied himself to the doors of a restaurant.
On Sunday, Russian pianist Luka Safronov, the son of well-known Russian artist Nikas Safronov, tied himself to the doors of a McDonald’s restaurant in Moscow to protest the company’s decision to leave the country due to the ongoing military situation in Ukraine.
Safronov, a body positivity activist who weighs over 270 kilograms, claims he does not want to change his lifestyle and accuses America of spending the last 30 years hooking Russians on McDonald’s and preaching that people can be accepted for who they are, regardless of size, only to take it all away and force people to change their habits.
“The situation is extremely tense and today I decided to act. I was born on October 31, 1990 – exactly 9 months after the opening of the first McDonald’s in Russia. Perhaps this coincidence had an influence on my whole life,” said Safronov.
“The Americans have tamed us with their flavorings and intrusive advertisements and have gotten us hooked on many things,” he continued, accusing the West of taking away the freedoms of Russians.
“Why do politicians from unfriendly countries make us, regular people, forcefully change our way of life? The values for which I have always stood, including body positivity,” claimed Luka. “Today, the food which I have eaten all my life is being taken away from me. I am being robbed of opportunities to travel and get to know the world.”
Forsided, 15.03.2022