Return to Transcripts main page

CNN NEWSROOM

Elton John's Dolce & Gabbana Boycott; Putin Reappears, But Where Was He For 10 Days? Aired 2:30-3p ET

Aired March 16, 2015 - 14:30   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.


BALDWIN: Just ahead here, Elton John is calling for boycott of fashion designers,

<14:30:00> BROOKE BALDWIN, CNN ANCHOR: -- mega-multimillion dollar designers, Dolce & Gabbana, over their comments IVF and same-sex couples who raise children.

So, let's talk to Oprah's former chef Art Smith. He and his partner raising four kids. What he has to say in the wake of those comments.

Plus, it is video you have to see. This entire rescue here of this miracle baby who survived in the water inside this overturned car. We have managed to secure this entire video here from the body camera of this police officer. You want to stick around to see this.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

<14:35:00> BALDWIN: Just past the bottom of the hour. You're watching CNN.

She may not realize it quite yet, but for the past two weeks, the whole world has been talking about one very, very strong little girl. Eighteen-month-old Lily Groesbeck spent 14 hours, 14, trapped in a car seat after her mother's SUV crashed into this frigid river in Utah.

Unfortunately, Little Lily's mother Jennifer, only 25 years of age, did not survive the crash. But this courageous rescue is a story filled with hope.

CNN has now obtained this just heart-pounding body cam video of the officer who managed to pull this little girl from this frigid river and into an ambulance. It is absolutely stunning to watch. Here it is.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

(INAUDIBLE)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: What have you got? What have you got?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: On that side. One of them -- we can try. I don't know. On each side.

(INAUDIBLE)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Straight down. Straight down.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Get over here. We're helping. We're coming.

Better get down here.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Ah!

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Let's go, guys. Ah! Come on. Watch out, watch out. Got to keep with it.

I'm not seeing any movement.

SUBTITLE: Although Lily and her mother were the car's only passenger, officers reported hearing a voice screaming "help me".

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Anybody here?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Hello?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: God, there's a baby. (EXPLETIVE DELETED)

There's a baby.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Ryan, get up here, though. Get up here.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: What do you need?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Get him, Paul. Go. We need to go this door.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I got this door.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Got it, brother.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Hang on, hang on. Don't move it.

(INAUDIBLE)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Hang on. We got guys in.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Got one in the car.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Anybody got scissors to cut the belt.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Yes, scissors.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: A knife.

(INAUDIBLE)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Here you go.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: You got it?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Pass her up. Pass her up.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Pass her up. UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Go, go, go!

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Take her up.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Come on, baby. Come on, baby. Definitely hypothermic. She's freezing.

(INAUDIBLE)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Here, go! Let's go!

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: OK.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: What do you need?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Suction.

SUBTITLE: Lily's car seat prevented her from being submerged in the frigid water.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Come on, sweetie. Come on, sweetie.

SUBTITLE: She is unconscious, and the EMT searches for a pulse.

(INAUDIBLE)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Right by the car. We're getting close.

Come on, sweetie.

SUBTITLE: They make it to a hospital in under five minutes.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Going to do CPR on her. She's been throwing up a little bit.

(INAUDIBLE)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: (INAUDIBLE) rolled into the river.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Underwater.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Underwater, for a whole (ph).

(END VIDEOTAPE)

BALDWIN: So, they get her to the hospital.

<14:40:00> She was released from the hospital last week. Her family says her improvement is, quote, "astonishing."

I just want to share something else with you. Here she is recovering with her dad at home. Lily, your strength is astounding.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

BALDWIN: Sir Elton John, firing back on Twitter over these controversial comments about in vitro fertilization made these Italian designers Dolce & Gabbana. They referred to, quote, "synthetic children born" in, quote, "rented wombs". Let's talk quite a bit more about what they said, the backlash.

But, first, more on this fashion empire that is Dolce & Gabbana.

<14:45:06> (BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

BALDWIN (voice-over): Domenico Dolce and Stefano Gabbana, two of the most powerful, most influential designers today. Together, these icons of Italian luxury fashioned built a billion dollar business. It's an empire with global reach, extending far beyond their flamboyant fashions to include high-priced designer accessories, sunglasses, purses, watches and fragrance.

The two formed their company back in 1985 flaunting their love of animal print and pink fur on the runways, from Milan to New York to Hong Kong. Today, they're still firmly at the helm, fronting a company that's privately held and employs some 4,000 people, mostly in Italy.

"Forbes" says their business is thriving due to worldwide demand for luxury goods. But this global brand has had its fair share of controversy. The Italian government, for instance, accused Dolce & Gabbana of evading corporate taxes and moving their assets to Luxembourg.

Dolce & Gabbana have plenty of public faces fronting their product. Perhaps none more famous than Madonna herself. But it remains to be seen exactly how much this boycott call will impact Dolce & Gabbana's bottom line or its loyal customer base.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

BALDWIN: A call for a boycott actually began on Sunday when Elton John, who has two children through IVF with his husband, David Furnish, issued a statement to Dolce & Gabbana's statement to "Panorama" magazine, saying, quote, "How dare you refer to my beautiful children as synthetic, and shame on you for wagging your judgmental little fingers at IVF -- a miracle that has allowed legions of loving people, both straight and gay, to fulfill their dream of having children. Your archaic thinking is out of step with the times, just like your fashions. I shall never wear Dolce & Gabbana ever again."

That statement quite gathered momentum and all kinds of supporters, including Ricky Martin, Al Roker, Courtney Love. The list goes on and on.

Stefano Gabbana was also quick to react, calling John a fascist in an Instagram comment that was later deleted. He was defending his freedom to speak, and calling on fans to boycott Elton John.

So, let's have a huge decision about the show. Let me bring in celebrity chef, Art Smith, he and his husband adopted several kids, siblings, so they can stay together as a family. And I've got my colleague, Kyra Phillips, with me. She's the author of "The Whole Life Fertility Plan".

So, welcome to both of you today.

And, you know, in this magazine, let me also add this, Dolce & Gabbana --

ART SMITH, CELEBRITY CHEF: Thank you, Brooke.

BALDWIN: They say, quote, "No chemical children. Life has a natural course. There are things that shouldn't be modified."

Kyra, you're up about first and I understand some of your responses is unrepeatable on television, my friend.

KYRA PHILLIPS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Yes, I had to figure out what I could say, so I could be a little more diplomatic on CNN.

Look, it's insensitive, it's bigoted. As a mom of IVF twins, I'm insulted. I mean, it's 2015 and they party like it's 1899. I mean, get with the times.

On the note of bigotry, I mean, I just had to look at this quote again. This is what these guys said. "The only family is the traditional one. There are things that should not be changed."

Here's what's amazing to me -- these are two gay men preaching prejudice, the same type of prejudice that millions of gay individuals around the world complain is preached about them.

BALDWIN: Let me come back to the notion of these are two gay men. And, Art, I want to come to you. Kyra, when you were going through the IVF process, were you ever made aware, were there people out there in the ether who had thrown this criticism before about synthetic kids? This is new to me.

PHILLIPS: Synthetic, OK, the only synthetic that I can think of are Dolce & Gabbana jeans that I can't fit into or afford because I'm on a budget raising twins, thank you very much.

My children have heartbeats, are beautiful individuals and have made my life so much richer than I could have ever imagined. Thank God for science because I couldn't do it naturally. I'd love to see these guys be able to bear a child and see what it's like to go through a miscarriage and the pain of losing a child and finally having one. They need children is what they need.

BALDWIN: Art, you're a gay father of multiple, I'm sure beautiful, children. Talk to me.

SMITH: Yes. It is shocking. But I want to tell you something -- in every group, there's a Judas. Welcome, you've got twins, OK?

You know, it's amazing how two formerly together men can say such horrible things. And, you know, I am a gay married man, married to Jesus, Jesus Salgueiro (ph), and our four gorgeous, newly adopted children. <14:50:06> And to me, it's just absolutely horrible and when Elton John came to me, I said, honey, Sir Elton John, go for it. He's such a voice for the truth. I support him in boycott Dolce & Gabbana. I mean, honey, I never bought anything for myself. I can only fit a wallet and pair of glasses on my face. But Jesus had plenty of them, he thrown off his out (ph), and he says, "I'm burning it."

BALDWIN: Here's the bigger overarching question, and I really love -- I love the candor from both of you. But do you think this -- do you think about their clients? We mentioned the most famous face when I think of Dolce & Gabbana, you think of Madonna, but also a lot of power players in the gay community have close ties to fashion, Art. I'm wondering, do you think this will ultimately hurt the brand?

SMITH: I think so. You know, this is not the first time we've had comments like this come out of Italy. I -- you know, Jesus and I, you know, threw a take the hate off the plate party when Varela (ph) made comments.

And guess what? We faced the hate. We're now great friends. They support us and they -- and all the great efforts that we do. And I really do believe that they just need kind of to wake up and I don't know what came over them. I'm there to wake them up and I promise you, if they don't correct their attitude. I will come to expo Milan and do take the hate off the runway party, OK?

BALDWIN: And to Kyra's point, because two gay men saying they believe in traditional family, your reaction specifically to them?

SMITH: It's just -- you know, only thing I can say and coming from a place of love, there's no love in their life. And I believe that they've had a lot of disappointment probably personally and usually people that have disappointment in their life with love, love to make other people's lives miserable.

So, you know, that's the only thing I can say. You know, people can say, whether they're trying to appease the government for that past they have or whether, because of the Catholic Church -- whatever. The reality is, what was said was wrong. Yes, freedom of speech, but not freedom of hate.

BALDWIN: Kyra Phillips, chef Art Smith, thank you both very, very much.

PHILLIPS: You bet.

BALDWIN: Thank you.

Coming up next, where in the world was Russian President Vladimir Putin? He finally appeared in public after disappearing, off the grid for 10 days. All of this as we learn why he prepared nukes.

Plus, millionaire Robert Durst caught on a hot open mic, saying he killed them all on the finale of the HBO show "The Jinx." Today, he waived his right to fight extradition to Los Angeles. So, could he be tried for murder again? Stay with me. You're watching CNN.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

<14:56:47> BALDWIN: Vladimir Putin is alive and well. The Russian president appearing this morning for the first time in ten days, putting an end to all the speculation and the rumors about where he could be. It all started to swirl last week after Putin abruptly postponed a meeting with regional leaders, then, skipped out of a meeting with counterintelligence officials. Some suggested he had fallen ill. Others suggested that he jaunted off with a girlfriend and had a baby. There was even talk he had been ousted in a palace coup.

No, no, the Kremlin denying all of that.

CNN.com contributor Frida Ghitis joins me now from Atlanta with -- really, Frida, where was he?

FRIDA GHITIS, WORLD AFFAIRS COLUMNIST, MIAMI HERALD & WORLD POLITICS REVIEW: Well, Brooke, we may never know. It shows what kind of a government we have in Russia that we don't know, nobody can ask, there are no answers. It will remain a mystery for as long as Putin's people decide that it will be.

BALDWIN: OK. Let's get to really the headline out of Russia. The fact that we know Putin gave this lengthy interview for this documentary on Russia's 2014 annexation of Crimea. At one point in this interview, he was asked if Russia was willing to bring nuclear weapons into play with regard to the conflict -- with regard to the annexation. And so, his response was this.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

VLADIMIR PUTIN, RUSSIAN PRESIDENT (through translator): We were ready to do it. I talked with colleagues and told them that Crimea is our historic territory. Russian people live there. They are in danger. We could not throw them away. It wasn't us who committed a coup. It was the nationalist and people with extreme beliefs.

You supported them. But where are you? Thousands of miles away. And here we are. And this is our land.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BALDWIN: So, we learned that he was prepared, he was poised to use nukes. We know they didn't do that. Did he -- it seems like he didn't estimate this whole thing properly. Why?

GHITIS: Well, this is Putin's way of saying all options are on the table to defend Crimea. It's another proof, it's further evidence of how Putin has upended the international global order.

This idea that you might actually use nuclear weapons that he would put the nuclear establishment, the nuclear facilities on alert to defend Crimea, it's yet another shock to the international system. And it's particularly ironic because there was -- there was an agreement, an international agreement that persuaded Ukraine to give up its nuclear weapons in which it was the Budapest memorandum in which countries including Russia, the United States and the United Kingdom committed themselves to helping Ukraine maintain its territorial integrity if it gave up its nuclear weapons.

And now, Ukraine did that. It did not maintain its territorial integrity. Russia took a piece of its territory. And now, Putin is saying that they might have used nuclear weapons to defend that.

BALDWIN: Frida Ghitis, thank you.

And we continue along. You're watching CNN. I'm Brooke Baldwin. Thank you for being with me on this Monday afternoon.

We begin with a story with many, many twists and turns here. Real estate heir, Robert Durst may have confessed to not one but several murder. Born into one of the richest families in all of New York City, Durst has been linked to the deaths of three people.