J.K. Rowling Criticizes 'Distasteful Hoax' by Russian Pranksters' Fake Video Call With Ukraine President

Formula 1 supremo Bernie Ecclestone has said he would “take a bullet” for Vladimir Putin and called the Russian leader a “first class person,” while criticizing Ukrainian leader Volodymyr Zelensky and U.S. intervention.

Selome Hailu To raise funds and awareness for the war in Ukraine, NBC will air primetime special “Ukraine: Answering the Call” featuring an address from president Volodymyr Zelenskyy on July 3 at 7 p.m.“Ukraine: Answering the Call” aims to respond to previous comments from Zelenskyy, who has challenged Americans to speak up about the war. The hour-long special will also feature appearances from José Andrés, Jon Batiste, Kristen Bell, Brandi Carlile, Brian Cox, Jeff Daniels, Vera Farmiga, Lena Headey, Alicia Keys, Simu Liu, Julianne Moore, Brad Paisley and Rosie Perez.

NBC has set Ukraine: Answering The Call, a one-hour primetime special aimed at education and raising funds for those whose lives have been shattered by the escalating war in the country.

Scores of civilians are feared dead or seriously injured after a Russian rocket strike hit a crowded shopping centre in the central Ukrainian city of Kremenchuk, officials have said. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said in a Telegram post that the number of victims was “unimaginable”, citing reports that more than 1,000 civilians were inside at the time of the attack.

Christopher Vourlias Several leading Ukrainian filmmakers have called out the Karlovy Vary International Film Festival for including a Russian film in its 56th edition, which kicks off on Friday, insisting that it’s reneged on a promise not to welcome any movies with ties to the Russian government.In a letter addressed to artistic director Karel Och and festival leadership that was shared with Variety, the filmmakers behind Dmytro Sukholytkyy-Sobchuk’s “Pamfir,” Maksym Nakonechnyi’s “Butterfly Vision” and Valentyn Vasyanovych’s “Reflection,” criticized the long-running Czech festival for including “Captain Volkonogov Escaped,” by directors Natasha Merkulova and Aleksey Chupov, in its Horizons sidebar.

J.K. Rowling was a victim of a prank, and the "Harry Potter" author was not amused.

The Rowling Library, the “Harry Potter” author was fooled by Russian comedy duo Vovan and Lexus, who are known for prank-calling high-profile celebrities.The duo’s past prank victims include Elton John, Boris Johnson, Kamala Harris, Prince Harry, Billie Eilish, Bernie Sanders, and George W. Bush — and it seems as though they can now add Rowling to their star-studded list.The multi-millionaire author — who seemingly didn’t know she was being recorded — was under the impression that Zelensky called to thank her for her charity work in the country.Earlier this year, Rowling announced she would match donations up to $1.2 million after her Lumos Foundation launched an emergency appeal to help vulnerable children and families in Ukraine.Fully thinking she was speaking to the president of the war-torn country, Rowling appeared invested in the conversation as the pranksters asked increasingly bizarre questions throughout the interview. During the increasingly-awkward 12-minute call, the impersonators asked Rowling about her thoughts on imposing sanctions on Russian actor Aleksandr Kuznetsov, who starred in the most recent “Fantastic Beasts” film.“Fantastic Beasts has been a very interesting experience.

Rowling was enticed into a Zoom call with the Russian comedy duo Vovan and Lexus, who have such high-profile scalps on their prank list as Kamala Harris and Prince Harry. Rowling thought she was talking to President Volodymyr Zelensky.

J.K. Rowling is the latest celebrity to fall victim to a pair of infamous Russian scammers.

J.K. Rowling fell for a prank.

Zack Sharf J.K. Rowling joined the likes of Elton John, Prince Harry and Billie Eilish in being the latest victim of Russian comedy pranksters Vovan and Lexus.

Peta Murgatroyd and Maksim Chmerkovskiy get candid about suffering three miscarriages over the last two years.

Severance director, who is a long-term goodwill ambassador for the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), visited Kyiv on World Refugee Day yesterday (June 20).During their meeting Stiller described Zelensky as his hero, thanking him for his service to his country and the rest of the world.“Sir, really nice to meet you,” said Stiller as they shook hands. “Thanks for taking the time.

Ben Stiller met with Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskyy as a Goodwill ambassador for the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees on Monday to commemorate World Refugee Day. Stiller toured occupied settlements in the Kyiv region of the war-torn country and spoke with survivors of the occupation in Irpin before meeting with Zelenskyy.  "It's one thing to see this destruction on TV or on social networks.

“You’re my hero,” Ben Stiller told Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy today on a visit to Kyiv. “You gave up a great acting career for this,” the Severance filmmaker joked with the former Servant of the People star.