U2 & Apple Accused of Distributing “Gay Propaganda” in Russia
A story like this must make U2 long for the days where people criticized it for distributing the 
Songs of Innocence album to 500+ million iTunes customers without permission.
According to a report by The Guardian, Alexander Starovoitov, a member of the rightwing LDPR party, has asked Russia’s attorney general to look into Apple for distributing “gay propaganda” to minors in the country. What’s the problem, you ask?
Well, it appears that Starovoitov is upset by U2’s Songs of Innocence album cover photo featuring the band’s shirtless drummer, Larry Mullen Jr., holding his shirtless, 18-year-old son around his waist. Starovoitov believes that Apple spammed minors with illegal content by distributing Songs of Innocence in September 2014.
Starovoitov is convinced that the album art promotes sex between men, and is more than likely relying on Russia’s 2013-enacted LGBT Propaganda Law, which was designed “for the purpose of protecting children from information advocating for a denial of traditional family values,” to vindicate his position.
Where Starovoitov’s case loses water, however, is the fact that when Songs of Innocence was initially distributed to the 500+ million iTunes customers, the album art was that of a vinyl test pressing – no humans whatsoever.
Sure, we thought the album cover was strange as well, but geez, this is a reach.
-Adam Grant
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