The Killers Apologize For Bringing Russian Onstage In Country Russia Invaded In 2008

The Killers apologized for inviting a Russian fan onstage during a concert in Georgia, the transcontinental country at the intersection of Eastern Europe and West Asia.

The former Soviet state of Georgia was invaded by Russia in 2008. It gained independence from the Soviet Union in 1991. Lead singer Brandon Flowers was booed for the move, with some concertgoers walking out of the show.

“We don’t know the etiquette of this land but this guy’s a Russian,” Flowers told the crowd during the show, per a report from The Guardian. “You OK with a Russian coming up here?”

The singer played a song and then addressed the crowd again. “You can’t recognize if someone’s your brother? He’s not your brother?” he asked the attendees. “We all separate on the borders of our countries? … Am I not your brother, being from America?”

There was a mixture of cheers and boos from the audience.

Flowers then said, “We’re here together.”

“I don’t want it to turn ugly,” he continued. “And I see you as my brothers and my sisters.”

The outlet noted that Russia currently occupies 20% of Georgian territory. There has been an uptick in Russians entering Georgia since the country invaded Ukraine in 2022. 

The band later apologized with a statement they posted on social media.

pic.twitter.com/mfuAf2I8xb

— The Killers (@thekillers) August 15, 2023

“Good people of Georgia, it was never our intention to offend anyone!” the statement said. “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.”

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“We recognize that a comment, meant to suggest that all of The Killers’ audience and fans are ‘brothers and sisters,’ could be misconstrued. We did not mean to upset anyone and we apologize. We stand with you and hope to return soon,” the message concluded.

While some commenters stressed that music should “unite” everyone, others seemed unmoved 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.