Stay up to date with notifications from The Independent

Notifications can be managed in browser preferences.

Sasha Grey: Former porn star becomes face of Russian anti-Kiev 'propaganda'

Actress was featured in a fake story about a nurse being murdered by Ukrainian soldiers

Lizzie Dearden
Friday 20 February 2015 09:59 EST
Comments

Your support helps us to tell the story

From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.

At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.

The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.

Your support makes all the difference.

A former porn star has slammed Russian “propaganda” after her photo was used to illustrate a fake story about a nurse being kidnapped, assaulted and chopped up with an axe by Ukrainian soldiers.

Sasha Grey, who left the adult film industry to become a mainstream actress, took to Twitter to debunk the story, saying the false report had gone “too far”.

She became the new face of an anti-Ukraine propaganda campaign when a photo of her published alongside the alleged horror story from the conflict went viral on Russian social network VKontakte, the Moscow Times reported.

Sasha Grey with Adrian Grenier in the Hollywood-set 'Entourage'
Sasha Grey with Adrian Grenier in the Hollywood-set 'Entourage'

It claimed “Sasha Serova” – similar to the Russian word for “grey” - was captured by Ukrainian soldiers who then filmed themselves “humiliating” her before chopping her body up with an axe.

“I (love) my Russian fans, but this propaganda takes it too far. News that I was a nurse killed in the Russian/Ukraine conflict. #f***propaganda,” Grey wrote on Twitter.

“People are dying. People are losing family members and BS outlets mock the deceased with fappery like this.”

Grey is best known for her part in HBO series Entourage and has appeared in several films as well as the video for Eminem’s single "Space Bound", where she played the rapper’s girlfriend.

The Moscow Times reported that the post received more than 3,500 likes in its first day online and may have been a “sick joke” rather than deliberate propaganda.

Misinformation and false claims have been a defining feature of the Ukraine conflict, with supporters of both sides waging their own war on social media.

Sasha Grey stars as a smart, articulate call-girl in 'The Girlfriend Experience'
Sasha Grey stars as a smart, articulate call-girl in 'The Girlfriend Experience'

State-owned Russian Channel One, the most popular station in the country, admitted that their story that a young boy had been crucified by Ukrainian troops was false, while Kiev-supporting outlets have reported unverifiable claims about the actions of separatist “terrorists”.

“Some of the more shocking cases that have been reported, particularly by Russian media, have been hugely exaggerated,” an Amnesty International report on the conflict said.

Join our commenting forum

Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies

Comments

Thank you for registering

Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in