British singer and producer Charli XCX has responded to the backlash surrounding an after-party held in Berlin following the premiere of her film The Moment, stating that neither she nor her team was aware of any alleged affiliations tied to the event's organizers. Ukrainian activists voiced worries about the promotional agency's history, which sparked the dispute.She released a statement in which she said:“For clarity, neither me nor my team were aware of any of the alleged affiliations around the party in Berlin.”She went on to add that she stood against the Russian government in Ukraine and supported the people of Ukraine:“I would like to take this opportunity to say I stand against the atrocities committed by the Russian government in Ukraine and I stand in solidarity with the people of Ukraine.”What happened at the Berlin after-party, and Charli XCX's responseAn after-party was held at STUDIO IIII after The Moment premiered in Berlin on February 14. Anastasia Shevtsova, a Russian-born DJ and producer who goes by Petit, is reportedly the owner of the promotional business that organised the event. In reels uploaded on Instagram, Charli XCX was seen dancing near the DJ booth. Charli’s husband, George Daniel, was one of the artists who was invited to perform there.Later, activists circulated information claiming that Zhanna Shevtsova, Shevtsova's mother, is the head of the "Traditsiya" foundation, which has reportedly operated in occupied Ukrainian areas such as Donetsk, Luhansk, and Mariupol and has collaborated with Russia's Presidential Fund for Cultural Initiatives. The reports stated that Shevtsova visited these regions and hosted patriotic movie screenings.According to images released on social media, the venue and Charlie XCX's team were informed about the alleged affiliations before the event, though it remains unclear how that communication took place or whether there was any official response at the time.Many people had shown up at the party. Other than Charli XCX's husband, even Austrian artist Wolfram, French musician SebastiAn, French DJ u.r.trax, and British musician and The 1975 drummer George Daniel were present.Charli responded to the criticism by stating that neither she nor her staff was aware of the alleged connections. After the backlash, she released a statement saying, "Neither my team nor I were aware of any of the alleged affiliations."There is no indication that the after-party, which took place after the movie's Berlin premiere, was planned by Charli XCX.The Moment's premiereThe Moment, a mockumentary film by Aidan Zamiri, is about a fictional Charli as she rides the wave of the cultural buzz surrounding her 2024 album Brat. It premiered at Sundance and later screened at Berlinale in the Panorama program.The movie's premiere was filled with fans. The viewers were given Howard Stirling “Brat” bank cards, which is the film’s inside joke. Charli XCX was joined by the movie's director, Aidan Zamiri, and producer David Hinojosa for the press conference.At a Berlin press conference, Charli XCX discussed the reasons behind the importance of starting the release at large festivals in the film:“We collectively feel honoured to be invited to show our film. Both festivals [Sundance and Berlin] really do champion a wide variety of filmmakers with really important voices.”She highlighted Berlinale's reputation for its political and socially conscious cinema:“This festival in particular is known for not shying away from political films, from films that have a real social angle by directors who are visionary and have something to say.”She concluded with:“For me as a producer, as an actor, those are the kind of films that we love. Those are the films that we want to champion ourselves. I’m only just starting out in this industry, but I feel passionate about working within those spaces. And we all feel so honoured to be here; we’re very thankful for this festival.”"The Moment" UK Premiere - Arrivals - Source: GettyThe Moment's cast includes Charli XCX, Alexander Skarsgård, Rosanna Arquette, Kate Berlant, Jamie Demetriou, Hailey Benton Gates, Isaac Powell, Rish Shah, and Rachel Sennott. American media personality and businesswoman Kylie Jenner makes a cameo appearance, playing a fictionalized version of herself.The movie has already had its limited release in the U.S. on January 30 and will be released on February 20 in other places, including the UK and Ireland. It is now set to be released in Russia in April.Stay tuned to Soap Central for more information.