The “Almost Naked Party" has become a household name in Russia. Organised by Russian blogger and TV presenter Nastya Ivleeva, and attended by many celebrities, the party was criticised by pro-regime propagandists as being tone-deaf in the context of the war and allegedly promoting LGBTQIA+ values. The consequences are numerous; aside from public apologies and legal action brought against some attendees, many discussions have been sparked – mainly about the reasons for the party's resonance and its inclusion in the media agenda. Moreover, this case opens up many implications for thinking about the tightening controls over the media landscape of a country waging an aggressive war. 

 

Dr Olga Logunova proposes to look at this event from the perspective of data, namely social media analytics. How did the participation of celebrities in the party reflect in media metrics? Has there been a "cancellation," and what do the followers of these celebrities think of their apologetic pilgrimages to the war zone? How is the party and the surrounding clout of repentance being talked about? What could it all mean for the public reaction to the ongoing Russian full-scale invasion of Ukraine, changing state standards of ethics and mores?