Former Soviet Union Leader Gorbachev, In a Pizza Hut Commercial!

Former President of the Soviet Union Mikhail Gorbachev appeared in a commercial for Pizza Hut in 1997.

Mikhail Gorbachev appeared in a Pizza Hut commercial in 1997

(Photo: Altered by The Quint)

While the former President of the Soviet Union Mikhail Gorbachev is widely known for his economic reform policies, based on the idea of ‘glastnost’, which essentially refers to adopting an open perspective in a socialist economic regime, did you know that in 1997, long after he’d held office, Gorbachev appeared in a TV commercial for Pizza Hut?

Gorbachev appeared in the commercial along with his granddaughter, Anastasia, and they walk into an outlet of the popular American pizza franchise in Moscow.

Upon entering, a family seated beside the duo get into a discussion about the impact Gorbachev has had on the economy of Russia. While the family erupts into a fervent discussion about Gorbachev, weighing the pros against the cons of his economic reforms, a lady interrupts the heated argument by saying, “Because of him we have many things... like Pizza Hut.”

All the customers hail the last leader of the Soviet Union for introducing to them Pizza Hut. After all, who can resist pizza?

In late 1990s, Gorbachev was one of the most recognisable faces across the globe. Along with him, Pizza Hut had contacted the likes of Luke Perry and former football player Ruud Gullit according to The Independent.