Washington D.C: Following the censorship on Rocketman, singer Elton John released a statement responding to Russian president Vladimir Putin's interview published in the Financial Times. The Russian distributors removed the intimate scenes between men from the musical biopic 'Rocketman' screened in Russia on May 30. John accused Putin of 'hypocrisy' when it comes to LGBTQ rights, reported Variety.

"Dear President Putin, I was deeply upset when I read your recent interview in the Financial Times. I strongly disagree with your view that pursuing policies that embrace multicultural and sexual diversity are obsolete in our societies," wrote John.