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Gregory Porter says Russian father-in-law doesn't believe what he says about conflict

BIRMINGHAM, ENGLAND - MARCH 29: Gregory Porter performs during a Concert for Ukraine at Resorts World Arena on March 29, 2022 in Birmingham, England. All proceeds from Concert for Ukraine are being donated to Disasters Emergency Committee's Ukraine Humanitarian Appeal. (Photo by Joe Maher/Disasters Emergency Committee/Getty Images for Livewire Pictures Ltd)
Gregory Porter's wife is from Russia. (Joe Maher/Disasters Emergency Committee/Getty Images for Livewire Pictures Ltd)

Gregory Porter has said that things have been “extraordinarily difficult” in his family as his Russian father-in-law doesn’t believe what he is saying about the conflict in Ukraine.

The US singer-songwriter’s wife Victoria is Russian and the pair have two young sons together.

Speaking on ITV's Good Morning Britain, the star revealed that things had been a little tricky with their relatives amid the ongoing crisis.

Read more: Gregory Porter: Some pre-pandemic music is no longer appropriate

Host Ben Shephard asked what Victoria’s parents thought of the situation and whether the singer discussed it with them, and Porter, 50, replied: “We do have deep conversations.”

“For 20 years Putin and that apparatus has been working on the Russian people for this very moment,” he said.

“It has been quite difficult actually in my family.

“If I’m going to be real with you this morning, it has been difficult in my family because my father-in-law doesn't believe the things that we’re telling him.

“So I have to be patient with him and it’s a longer conversation.”

LOS ANGELES, CA - FEBRUARY 12:  Victoria Porter (L) and singer Gregory Porter attend The 59th GRAMMY Awards at STAPLES Center on February 12, 2017 in Los Angeles, California.  (Photo by Steve Granitz/WireImage)
Victoria and Gregory Porter at an awards show. (Steve Granitz/WireImage)

The singer – who lives in California with his family - added that he feels “justice will prevail eventually”.

Asked whether the situation was hard for his wife, Porter shared that his parents in law had yet to meet his youngest son. Before the conflict they had been planning a visit to Russia.

“That’s my children’s grandfather so it's extraordinarily difficult," he explained.

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“We had plans to go there this summer. They have not met my new son.

“So yes it is extraordinarily difficult.”

Porter went on: “And also I feel like when I sing songs like 'No Love Dying' or 'When Love Was King' it is directly a push against that negative energy that exists in the world.”

The star and his wife have been together for several years, after apparently meeting at a nightspot in Moscow.

Watch: Gregory Porter raising funds for charity with Disney campaign single