The Killers apologize for inviting Russian onstage in country invaded in 2008.
The Killers Apologize for Controversial Concert Moment
The Killers recently found themselves in hot water after inviting a Russian fan onstage during a concert in Georgia, a country at the crossroads of Eastern Europe and West Asia.
Georgia, a former Soviet state, was invaded by Russia in 2008 and gained independence in 1991. Lead singer Brandon Flowers faced backlash from the audience, with some concertgoers even walking out of the show.
During the concert, Flowers addressed the crowd, saying, “We don’t know the etiquette of this land but this guy’s a Russian. You OK with a Russian coming up here?”
After playing a song, Flowers continued, “You can’t recognize if someone’s your brother? He’s not your brother? We all separate on the borders of our countries? … Am I not your brother, being from America?”
The audience responded with a mix of cheers and boos.
Flowers then emphasized, “We’re here together.”
“I don’t want it to turn ugly,” he added. “And I see you as my brothers and my sisters.”
The band later issued an apology on social media, stating, “Good people of Georgia, it was never our intention to offend anyone! We have a longstanding tradition of inviting people to play drums and it seemed from the stage that the initial response from the crowd indicated that they were okay with tonight’s audience participation member.”
— The Killers (@thekillers) August 15, 2023
The statement also acknowledged that their comment about the audience being “brothers and sisters” could be misconstrued and apologized for any offense caused. They expressed solidarity with the Georgian people and expressed a desire to return in the future.
While some commenters emphasized the power of music to unite people, others remained unimpressed by the band’s apology.
“Read the Room. Russia invaded Georgia in 2008. Russia still occupies territory in Georgia. You completely insulted your audience. I don’t think they should ever invite you back,” one account replied.
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