David Duchovny Longs to Be Russian…or Ukrainian

David Duchovny created a confused furor over his appearance in a nationalistic Russian beer commercial in which he imagines what life would have been like if he were Russian. The X-Files and Californication star mentioned the Russian roots to his name and appeared in fantasy roles as a ballet choreographer, an astronaut, a hockey player, a rock star and relaxed after running the  gamut in a traditional Russian steam bath.

This ad arrives at a time when Europe has considered sanctions against Russia following the downing of a Malaysian airplane recently. At the end of the ad, Duchovony said “Being Russian, I’d have so many things to be proud of.”  Critics of the ad find it poorly-timed, especially given the nationalistic nature of the ad. To make things even more complicated, Duchovny’s mother has said that his roots might be Ukranian rather than Russian. April Duchovny wrote on Twitter: “I grew up thinking I was Russian only to find recently that I’ve been Ukrainian all along. Never too late to change.” The reason for the confusion is understandable, since a good portion of modern-day Ukraine was part of the Russian Empire, but the actor’s decision to appear in the ad in the first place at such a time leaves many scratching their heads.