Ukrainian rapper Potap has responded to a petition on the website of the President of Ukraine asking to strip his state title.
The petition was published on August 28 and has collected 5,340 votes.
The text of the document alleges that the musician regularly shows public contempt for the Ukrainian language and culture. It claims he promotes the spread of Russian in Ukraine by reducing the use of Ukrainian and offering Russian as an alternative.
Potap's reaction to the petition
Potap addressed the initiative in a statement published on his Instagram account. He wrote that all other problems in the country appeared to be solved, leaving only the removal of his state honor as the primary task.
The rapper stated that if surrendering the honor truly helped someone, made people happier, brought victory closer, or restored faith, he was willing to give it up voluntarily. He emphasized that Ukraine currently needs unity, common sense, and clarity on who the real enemy is, rather than a symbolic hunt to punish another artist.
Potap made a counter-proposal to surrender his Honored Artist title in exchange for the status of People's Artist of Ukraine. He explained that he became a people's artist long before any official decrees or certificates were granted, earning that distinction through twenty years of concerts, songs, and packed halls alongside his audience.
He added that because the public conferred that affection upon him, others could not take it away. Potap urged people to take care of one another, noting that Ukrainians still need to rebuild the country, raise children, sing songs, and learn not to attack their own.
Background and career context
Potap, whose real name is Oleksiy Potapenko, is a Ukrainian rapper, songwriter, and music producer who gained widespread popularity across Eastern Europe. Official state distinctions such as Honored Artist of Ukraine and People's Artist of Ukraine are titles awarded by the Ukrainian state to recognize significant contributions to national culture and the performing arts.
The artist is widely known for performing alongside singer Nastya Kamenskykh in the pop duo Potap i Nastya. The two performers recently disclosed the reasons behind their decision to resume their duet after a nine-year pause.
