Actress AnnaLynne McCord has defended her cringing poem that told of her desire to have been Russian President Vladimir Putin’s mother and prevent war in Ukraine.
The 2:20 long video went viral and has generated 26.4 million views since it was posted on Thursday morning.
McCord appeared to show empathy for the Russian leader by suggesting that she could have been a dictator herself.
‘I know how I could easily have moved in the direction of becoming a dictator myself,’ McCord told BuzzFeed News.
‘If certain circumstances of my life were different, were I a little less bent toward healing and more toward vindication, I could have been a darkly powerful person,’ she said.
![Actress AnnaLynne McCord, 34, has defended her cringing poem that told of her desire to have been Russian President Vladimir Putin's mother and prevent war in Ukraine](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2022/02/24/21/54619381-10548947-image-a-190_1645736914975.jpg)
Actress AnnaLynne McCord, 34, has defended her cringing poem that told of her desire to have been Russian President Vladimir Putin’s mother and prevent war in Ukraine
![McCord, 34, posted a bizarre poem online Thursday about her desire to be Russian President Vladimir Putin's mother](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2022/02/25/23/54669689-10553437-image-a-9_1645832551251.jpg)
McCord, 34, posted a bizarre poem online Thursday about her desire to be Russian President Vladimir Putin’s mother
![She said in an interview outside of the poem that she 'could easily have moved in the direction of becoming a dictator myself'](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2022/02/25/23/54669691-10553437-image-a-10_1645832562925.jpg)
She said in an interview outside of the poem that she ‘could easily have moved in the direction of becoming a dictator myself’
McCord said she was motivated to share the poem after she woke up ‘in anguish’ over ‘the children of the war’ and the young Ukrainians who are experiencing war for the first time.
She told the outlet how she feels for ‘children who grow into adults and become people who do historically horrifying things’ adding that she personally understands ‘early life trauma.’
The former 90210 star shared her musings about the Russian president on Twitter, drawing harsh criticism from users who called McCord ‘self indulgent,’ and ‘narcissistic’ for drawing attention to herself as Putin leads a brutal attempt to take over Ukraine.
She began her verse with an apology to 69-year-old Putin.
‘I’m so sorry I was not your mother,’ she said. ‘If I was your mother, you would have been so loved, held in the arms of joyous light.’
She told BuzzFeed that she believed her mission was to raise awareness about changes needed within ‘education systems’ to ‘protect children and stop creating dictators and abusers and enslavers and rapists and bullies.’
McCord suggested a ‘nervous system regulation practice’ be added as a ‘mandatory tool for young children to stop the pandemic of violence.’
Throughout the video, McCord, 34, went on about how Putin’s life would have been different if he’d have been embraced by her love.
Although McCord blames the family matriarch throughout the poem, Putin’s mother, Maria Shelomova, has been characterized by others as a kind factory worker who secretly baptized him during the Communist era.
The details of Putin’s early life are scarce, but Putin described his mother in an interview posted on the Kremlin’s website as an excellent cook who lived a simple life.
‘We lived very simply cabbage soup, cutlets, pancakes,’ Putin said. ‘But on Sundays and holidays my Mom would bake very delicious stuffed buns with cabbage, meat and rise, and curd tarts.’
![Although McCord blames the family matriarch throughout the poem, Putin's mother, Maria Shelomova, has been characterized by others as a kind factory worker who secretly baptized him](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2022/02/24/21/54619941-10548947-image-a-195_1645738389216.jpg)
Although McCord blames the family matriarch throughout the poem, Putin’s mother, Maria Shelomova, has been characterized by others as a kind factory worker who secretly baptized him
![The invasion was ordered by Russian President Vladimir Putin, whose widely-condemned leadership has the world on edge](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2022/02/24/22/54619679-10548947-The_invasion_was_ordered_by_Russian_President_Vladimir_Putin_who-a-62_1645743206863.jpg)
The invasion was ordered by Russian President Vladimir Putin, whose widely-condemned leadership has the world on edge
![Putin's mother Maria Shelomova](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2022/02/25/22/54620707-10553437-Putin_s_mother_Maria_Shelomova-m-1_1645829922893.jpg)
Putin’s mother Maria Shelomova
However, she hinted in the poem that she was speaking metaphorically and was really referring to Russia with her ‘mother’ references.
The actress proclaimed in her poem that she would have done a better job and spared the world from warfare if only she’d been born earlier.
‘If I was your mother, the world would have been warm,’ she said.
It all could have been avoided, McCord said.
‘If I was your mother, if the world was cold, I’d have died to make you warm,’ she said. ‘I’d have died to protect you from the unjust; the violence; the terror; the uncertainty. I would have died to give you life.’
Putin ordered a full-scale invasion of Ukraine this week.
Officials in the country say more than 100 civilians and soldiers have been killed as Russia attacks on multiple fronts across the country.
On the first day of conflict 57 people were killed and 169 others were wounded, Ukraine’s health ministry said.
![Officials in Ukraine say more than 100 civilians and soldiers have been killed](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2022/02/24/22/54619587-10548947-During_the_first_day_of_conflict_in_Ukraine_67_people_were_kille-a-63_1645743206901.jpg)
Officials in Ukraine say more than 100 civilians and soldiers have been killed
![Meghan McCain led a round of criticism by tweeting: 'I'm not sure if this is meant to be a parody or truly everyone in Hollywood is just out of their minds](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2022/02/24/22/54621001-10548947-Meghan_McCain_led_a_round_of_criticism_by_tweeting_I_m_not_sure_-a-64_1645743206936.jpg)
Meghan McCain led a round of criticism by tweeting: ‘I’m not sure if this is meant to be a parody or truly everyone in Hollywood is just out of their minds
![](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2022/02/24/22/54620795-10548947-image-a-65_1645743206962.jpg)
![](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2022/02/24/22/54620791-10548947-image-a-69_1645743207101.jpg)
![Others joined in at poking fun at the actress's poetry, though some said they actually liked it](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2022/02/24/22/54620797-10548947-Others_joined_in_at_poking_fun_at_the_actress_s_poetry_though_so-a-68_1645743207047.jpg)
Others joined in at poking fun at the actress’s poetry, though some said they actually liked it
McCord’s poetry failed to elicit much praise on Twitter, with many blasting it as self-centered and ridiculous.
Conservative commentator Meghan McCain led a round of criticism by tweeting: ‘I’m not sure if this is meant to be a parody or truly everyone in Hollywood is just out of their minds.
‘But thank you to this actress lady for making me smile for the first time in 24 hours. ‘Nailed it girl, wars over.’
‘Calm down,’ tweeted @ConceptualBIG after listening to McCord’s poem. ‘There’s no need to torture people using cringe as a weapon.’
Added @articninjapaul: ‘Why do celebs keep sending their audition tapes to Twitter?’
‘This should be a war crime,’ tweeted @fishontherun2.
Although most poked fun at the poem, some found it heartfelt.
‘If you actually listen to her words rather than just making snap judgments, her point is that blind allegiance to a country and power is an ego’s attempt at a replacement for emotional needs that were not met,’ one person tweeted. ‘And she’s right.’