Kremlin-run TV claims US interviewer ‘positioned herself as a sex object’ to distract Putin

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A Russian state TV channel has launched an extraordinary attack on a female US presenter for allegedly attempting to distract Vladimir Putin by ‘positioning herself as a sex object.’

CNBC’s Hadley Gamble was moderator for a session involving the Russian leader at an energy forum in Moscow.

Putin drew criticism for ‘sexism’ after referring to her in a session about the gas war as ‘beautiful’ and ‘pretty.’

But now Vladimir Solovyov, a Putin ‘propagandist,’ has used his Rossiya 1 news channel show to focus on previously unseen moments in which he claims Gamble attempts to ‘distract’ the Russian leader.

The footage focuses mainly on her legs, with another presenter, Dmitry Kiselyov, claiming she used her ‘body language’ at ‘full steam.’

The leg footage was seen by state TV as an unsuccessful bid to throw the 69-year-old strongman off guard.

‘Naturally not everything was included in the TV broadcast, so this is what was seen by the audience, and by our crew,’ said the report on 57-year-old Solovyov’s show which chronicles Putin’s week.

‘And even more…’

Kiselyov – known as Putin’s ‘mouthpiece’ and ‘propagandist-in-chief’ – told viewers: ‘To summarise, Hadley behaved daringly, openly positioning herself as a sex object, without any fear of being criticised by feminists.’ 

Neither Gamble nor CNBC immediately responded to DailyMail.com’s request for comment. 

However, Gamble, making light of the situation, posted a photo Thursday on Instagram.

The picture shows Gamble holding up a Russian newspaper with a front-page article that appears to be about her legs and sex appeal.

‘My best angle,’ she captioned the photo, including a laughing emoji and #feminism. 

On Sunday, she shared a picture of a cake featuring screen-print of Putin’s face and text reading: ‘Too beautiful!’

‘I have the best friends,’ Gamble captioned the photo. 

Meantime, both the Russian news outlet and Putin are facing criticism on social media for their commentary.

Daily Beast columnist Julia Davis jumped to Gamble’s defense when Kiselyov’s accusations made headlines.

‘The state media’s ridiculous assault on a U.S. journalist’s appearance was merely a smokescreen for what truly drew the ire of the pro-Kremlin media: it wasn’t Hadley Gamble’s dress or her legs, but her questions,’ Davis tweeted.

The columnist also alleged that the network’s response to Gamble’s outfit was hypocritical, citing another recent instance where they slammed American diplomat Victoria Nuland for wearing a pantsuit.

‘What’s especially comical is that the Russians are criticizing Victoria Nuland for “insulting Russia” by not wearing a skirt or a dress, and Hadley Gamble for wearing one they didn’t like,’ she wrote. 

Likewise, David Sheppard, energy editor at the Financial Times, tweeted that Putin telling Gamble she is ‘a beautiful woman but that she’s not listening to what he says’ was ‘as grim as it sounds.’

He was met with negativity from users who accused Gamble of blatantly ignoring the Russian leader and said: ‘In a world short of testosterone and long feminism – political correctness may be in vogue. 

‘Isn’t it disrespectful if you do not listen to your interviewee’s detailed response nor acknowledge it – but push thru a pre-thought narrative?’

Sheppard slammed the user, saying: ‘You think it’s legitimate to lead off an answer talking about a journalist’s looks? It’s patronising, it’s sexist and it’s not on.

‘It’s a weak man who hides behind testosterone as an excuse for inappropriate behaviour. Would he have said the same to a male journalist? No.’  

Others took a more sarcastic approach when issuing support for Gamble.

‘I never thought I’d have to say this but… The next time you go to Russia @_HadleyGamble, pack the Abaya,’ wrote Gulf-based journalist and marketing communications executive Alex Malouf.

‘Kremlin press pool journalist is very interested in @_HadleyGamble’s shoes. One does not simply stretch her heels at Dear Leader,’ echoed Kevin Rothrock, managing editor at the Meduza.

However, some social media users agreed with the Kremlin-run network. 

‘Hadley Gamble is one of the finest financial journalists in any media. The fact that she uses sex appeal as part of the armoury does not diminish the fact she can get Putin to answer as openly as he does anywhere,’ wrote Andrew Matthews.

‘Kisel had been away for a long time, this time he exposed the American journalist Hadley Gamble, who tried to seduce Pynya during an interview,’ argued Oleg But. ‘Decoding level of Alex Leslie, and maybe even higher.’

Meanwhile, body language expert Judi James said Gamble’s body language shown in the footage is ‘hilarious and pretty blatant.’

James told MailOnline: It’s not unknown for both male and female interviewers to fake-flirt with their “prey” in a bid to either distract them or to encourage them to be off their guard when they’re answering questions.

‘Flirting can look both flattering and intimate and suggest an air of collusion, making the interviewee feel they can trust the other person and be more open with them. 

‘It can also lead to boasting, which is where a lot of politicians in particular tend to get caught out, blurting more than they should do as their ego gets both stroked and stoked.’ 

She added: ‘These signals are anything but subtle though. 

‘This woman appears to have devoured the chapter on flirting from some body language guide to love and sex from the early 1970’s. 

‘Far from picking one signal to attract attention she seems to be using the entire repertoire, many of them at the same time.’

In the Russian media report, Kiselyov said: ‘It feels like Hadley was preparing really hard for the meeting with Putin.

‘Like she was getting ready for the catwalk.’

He claimed she had ‘shed a couple of kilograms’ for the energy session and ‘squeezed herself into a little black dress,’ puffing up her ‘loose hair’. 

A gibe that she had seemed ‘chubbier’ in earlier Instagram pictures was edited out of a later version of the report.

To ‘visually elongate her legs she opted for a pair of nude Louboutins with a 12-centimetre-high heel,’, said 67-year-old Kiselyov.

Designer Christian Louboutin had said such shoes ‘must look good on a naked woman… they add this sublime sexuality,’ he claimed. 

The Russian presenter continued: ‘Hadley Gamble preferred to show up to the president without stockings, and her arms visibly bare.’

This was ‘pretty questionable,’ he said.

‘About the legs… they were caked in oily shimmer. Hadley’s body language worked at full steam… Whatever was she doing with her legs…?’

This was not appropriate for work, he suggested. 

‘Hadley constantly touched her hair – a gesture universally seen as sex appeal… (and) made her eyes and licked her lips, rolling out her tongue…’ 

In the energy session Putin had claimed the ‘beautiful’ and ‘pretty’ American TV interviewer was not listening to him on gas exports to Europe.

She immediately claimed she was listening.

But Putin said: ‘Beautiful woman, pretty, I’m telling her one thing. She instantly tells me the opposite as if she didn’t hear what I said. Well, I’ll repeat it for you once again…’

At this point, Gamble interrupted and told the Russian president she had ‘heard’ him, but claimed the Russians took ‘long enough’ to address the gas supply issue. 

He continued: ‘Listen, you’ve just said “You don’t supply gas to Europe through pipelines.”

‘You are being misled. We are increasing supplies to Europe.’

The Russian media said Putin had used the reference to her looks to push back against Gamble, but added that calling her ‘beautiful’ was a ‘compliment.’

Putin also claimed the US and other suppliers to Europe had reduced gas flows.  

Putin dismissed suggestions he is exploiting the energy crisis to get the Nord Steam 2 pipeline approved as ‘politically motivated blather’ – though added that opening the pipe will ‘significantly decrease’ gas prices. 

One of Russia’s main routes for pumping gas into Europe currently runs through Ukraine, which makes about $1 billion per year in fees for maintaining the line.

The Nord Stream 2 pipeline would bypass that route by going direct to Germany, depriving Ukraine of the money.  

The move would also hurt Poland, which sits along another major gas route – a move observers say would punish the two countries for allying closely with Europe.