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Elton John puts on an energetic performance after claiming he was 'happy to be pranked' in Vladimir Putin phone joke because it highlighted gay discrimination

By Kayleigh Giles and Julian Robinson and Flora Drury For Mailonline

Published: 11:41 EST, 19 September 2015 | Updated: 13:00 EST, 19 September 2015

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He made headlines earlier this week after he was tricked into thinking he was receiving a phone call from Russian president Vladimir Putin.

But Elton John looked to have put the drama behind him as he took to the stage at Piedmont Park in Atlanta, Georgia, on Friday.

The 68-year-old singer was every inch the entertainer as he took to the stage to belt out hits from his endless discography.

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Over it! Elton John looked to have put the drama behind him as he took to the stage at Piedmont Park in Atlanta, Georgia, on Friday

The star opted for a black suit for the show which was adorned with glitzy gold embellishments and coordinating metallic shoes.

The show came just a short while after Elton insisted he was 'happy to be pranked' after being tricked in to thinking he was talking to Putin - because the incident could help highlight gay discrimination.

Television pranksters Vladimir Krasnov and Alexei Stolyarov, who are known as 'Vova and Lexus', say they rang the singing superstar pretending to be the Russian president earlier this week.

The 68-year-old took to Instagram today as he described the joke as an 'unfortunate incident' - but reaffirmed his offer to talk to Putin about gay rights.

Glam: The star opted for a black suit for the show which was adorned with glitzy gold embellishments and coordinating metallic shoes

Music icon: The 68-year-old singer was every inch the entertainer as he took to the stage to belt out hits from his endless discography

It's a little bit funny: Sir Elton thanked Putin for calling him and agreeing to meet face-to-face, but the Kremlin denied such a conversation took place and it has now been revealed the call was a prank

Elton John has insisted he was 'happy to be pranked' after being tricked in to thinking he was talking to Vladimir Putin - because the incident could help highlight gay discrimination

Jokes: Vladimir Krasnov and Alexei Stolyarov, who are known as 'Vova and Lexus', say they rang the singing superstar pretending to be the Russian president earlier this week

He told his followers: 'Pranks are funny. Homophobia, however is never funny. I love Russia and my offer to talk to President Putin about LGBT rights still stands.

'I will always stand up for those that are being degraded and discriminated against.

'If this unfortunate incident has helped push this vital issue back into the spotlight, then I am happy to be pranked on this occasion.'

The response comes after the pranksters released an extract of their phone conversation with the rocket man hit-maker.

During the phone call, the star can be heard saying he had spoken to the President of Ukraine about gay rights, telling him 'the LGBT population can help boost the economy'.

Sir Elton John announced on Instagram that Putin had called him personally and had agreed to meet

On Wednesday evening, the pranksters broadcast brief extracts from the phone call on Russian TV.

The pair can be heard posing as the Russian president and his press secretary, with Sir Elton appearing to be falling for the prank.

Sir Elton tells 'Putin' how he would 'love to sit down and discuss things face to face' and how he has discussed the LGBT community in Ukraine with President Petro Poroshenko.

PUTIN PRANK: CALL BROADCAST ON RUSSIAN TELEVISION

Elton: 'Hello?'

Alexey Stolyarov [posing as Putin’s press secretary Dmitry Peskov: 'Sir Elton, Hello.'

Elton: 'Hello Dmitry, how are you?'

Peskov: 'I’m fine. I’ll be interpreter between you and Mr Putin.'

Elton: 'Ok, ok thank you. And you tell me what he says, right.'

Peskov: 'Sure.'

Elton; 'Yes please.'

Vladimir Krassnov, posing as Putin [in Russian]: 'Hello Sir Elton. I was told that you wanted to discuss some important issues of Russian life.'

Elton: 'That is incredible. I am a musician and a philanthropic person and a humanitarian. I’m not a politician, but I would love to sit down with president and discuss things face to face because I think we can solve many issues .'

Another extract revealed:

Putin: 'Recently you visited Ukraine and had a conversation with Mr Poroshenko and that was a political meeting.'

Elton: 'No it was not a political thing. I was just asking him to embrace the LGBT population in Ukraine because they can help boost the economy in Ukraine.

'My position in life is that people who are gay should be included in all walks of life and be given basic freedom. I love Russia, it’s been part of my life since 1979 and I just want to make the situation better if I can.'

The 'proof' of the prank brings to an end days of confusion, after a delighted Sir Elton posted a picture of Putin on his Instagram page thanking him for calling him to discuss gay rights.

The call came after the music icon announced he wanted to meet Putin to discuss Russia's 'ridiculous' stance on gay rights.

But the Kremlin moved quickly to deny such a call took place.

Tonight, however, the two pranksters have promised to clear up the confusion when they play the 11 minute recording on their show, which airs on a state-backed channel.

Speaking to Russian site MSK, Stolyarov boasted: 'We think that Putin is unlikely to want at least in the near future to meet with him and to call, but it turned out that Elton John is waiting for that call, so immediately believed in the reality of a conversation with the people that we represent.

'He said, "Thank you. You made my day. This day, and the conversation was the most wonderful and beautiful in my life".'

Sir Elton certainly seems to have been delighted. In an Instagram post which included a close-up of the president's face, the pop star wrote: 'Thank-you to President Vladimir Putin for reaching out and speaking via telephone with me today.

'I look to forward to meeting with you face-to-face to discuss LGBT equality in Russia.'

The musician has accused Putin of saying 'stupid things', such as when he warned gay people travelling to the Winter Olympics to 'leave the children in peace'.

Russia passed a law banning homosexual 'propaganda' among children in June 2013, sparking an international outcry.

The country has also banned same-sex marriage and opposes support for equal rights for homosexuals.

Sir Elton said Mr Putin's attitude to gay people was 'isolating and prejudiced' and 'ridiculous'.

Speaking to the BBC, he added: 'I would like to meet (Mr Putin). It's probably pie in the sky ... He may laugh behind my back when he shuts the door and call me an absolute idiot, but at least I can think I have the conscience to say I tried.'

Sir Elton made the remarks after speaking at a conference in neighbouring Ukraine, where he lobbied president Petro Poroshenko over gay rights on Saturday.

Sir Elton, who has two sons with husband David Furnish (left), has been outspoken on the issue of gay rights

Sir Elton, 68, took to Instagram today as he described the joke as an 'unfortunate incident' - but reaffirmed his offer to talk to Putin (pictured) about gay rights

In Ukraine, Sir Elton urged the country to stop repressing its lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) community.

The star has been outspoken on the issue of gay rights. Earlier this year, he temporarily boycotted Dolce and Gabbana after the fashion designers called children conceived by IVF 'synthetic'.

He has two sons, Zachary, four, and Elijah, two, with his husband, David Furnish.