Russian Olympic ice champion Tatiana Navka and her skating partner Andrew Burkovsky provoked international outrage this week with their Holocaust themed performance in which the duo skated in striped concentration camp uniforms complete with the yellow Star of David.
Navka, the wife of Vladimir Putin’s spokesperson Dmitry Peskov, performed on the Russian reality show Ice Age which is broadcast by Russia’s leading state run TV network, Channel One. In addition to their striped uniforms, Navka and Peskov also appeared to wear stage makeup to make them look gaunt and emaciated.
The duo was trying to portray the horror of Holocaust tragedy. But while performing their pirouettes they were smiling at the audience and getting loud applause, as well as the highest points from the jury.
This performance drew the ire of many social media users from around the world and calls for a public apology.
But on her Instagram page, Navka shared a photo explaining that the routine was based on one of her favorite films, Life is Beautiful, that is set in a concentration camp.
“Show this movie to your kids. Our children should know and remember that tragic history, which I hope, God willing, they will never experience,” she said in a politically charged message.
Although the performance was inspired by the Oscar winning film and was set to its soundtrack, many were nonetheless bothered by what was viewed as an inappropriate take on Jewish suffering.
The Ice Age jury, however, apparently had a more transcendent experience from this skating routine — Peskov and Burkovsky got the highest points in the competition.
It was a far cry from other world reaction.
@EmbassyofRussia I want to lodge a complaint of disgust against your government and Tatyana Navka's Holocaust themed ice skating show!!
— Neville A. Prinsloo (@nevilleprinsloo) November 27, 2016
@EmbassyofRussia – Tatyana Navka should be ordered by Putin to make a public apology. Have you also forgotten how your people suffered WW2?
— Neville A. Prinsloo (@nevilleprinsloo) November 27, 2016
Oh those whacky Holocaust victims (OH MY GOD OH MY GOD OH MY GOD) https://t.co/mzn441sQZD
— Sarah Silverman (@SarahKSilverman) November 27, 2016
This might be offensive if they hadn't take such great care to recreate all the wonderful ice dancing going on at Aushwitz at the time. https://t.co/Nz0iDHqili
— Michael Ian Black (@michaelianblack) November 27, 2016
Someone thought that this was a good idea:https://t.co/4Olh5kMLeA
— Jeffrey Goldberg (@JeffreyGoldberg) November 27, 2016
HAVE YOU LOST ALL SENSE OF DECENCY? HAVE YOU NO SHAME? The Holocaust on ice, complete with a sound track of barking dogs. https://t.co/9lMAqZHkNZ
— Deborah E. Lipstadt (@deborahlipstadt) November 27, 2016
This isn't just sick, this is horrifying. https://t.co/MfFh3dz9tS
— Erin Pelton (@erin_pelton) November 27, 2016
It's the look of pride in Tatyana Navka and her Holocaust skating partner's eyes that is the most disturbing about their performance.
— tapeworthy (@tapeworthy) November 27, 2016
You are not supposed to perform Holocaust-themed ice dances.
— Jacob Labendz (@Jacob_Labendz) November 27, 2016
