The world really wants this rumour of Vladimir Putin dating Rupert Murdoch's ex-wife to be true

Gossip magazine US Weekly published an article on Wednesday saying that Russian President Vladimir Putin was dating Wendi Deng, media tycoon Rupert Murdoch's ex-wife.

The magazine does not cite any sources for the report, and cites almost zero evidence to back its case. Yet the rumour was picked by magazines and gossip sites around the world and it's also trending on social media in the UK.

This is what US Weekly wrote about the alleged relationship:

The rumor circulating around the corridors of power - from Washington, D.C., to Europe and Asia - is that Vladimir Putin and Wendi Deng, Rupert Murdoch's ex-wife, are dating. 

One insider close to the powerful leader tells Us Weekly the relationship is "serious."

The article also purported that rumours of a potential relationship between them began after their divorces, but that no one had yet "spotted" Putin and Deng looking romantic. 

True or not, the public - and the UK media, frankly - really seems to want the pair to be dating. Twitter could not stop buzzing about it.

 

Deng's ex-husband Murdoch recently married ex-model Jerry Hall, his fourth marriage.