The Killers introduced a Russian fan onstage within the nation of Georgia final evening (August 15), telling the group that they had been all “brothers and sisters” regardless of extreme tensions between the nation and its domineering neighbor, which invaded it in 2008. Booing and walkouts ensued, The Guardian stories, citing video from inside and outdoors the Black Sea Area. The band apologized afterward, writing on social media, “Now we have a longstanding custom of inviting folks to play drums and it appeared from the stage that the preliminary response from the group indicated that they had been okay with tonight’s viewers participation member coming onstage with us.”
Upon introducing the Russian particular person, Killers singer Brandon Flowers stated, “We don’t know the etiquette of this land, however this man’s a Russian. You OK with a Russian developing right here?” One video exhibits a refrain of “no”s and boos ring out. After the tune, Flowers added, “You’ll be able to’t acknowledge if somebody’s your brother? He’s not your brother? All of us separate on the borders of our international locations?” He went on to speechify concerning the unifying ethos of Christianity. “Am I not your brother, being from America?” he requested. Earlier than persevering with the present, he stated, “I don’t need it to show ugly. And I see you as my brothers and my sisters.”
The Killers’ apology reads, in full:
Good folks of Georgia, it was by no means our intention to offend anybody! Now we have a longstanding custom of inviting folks to play drums and it appeared from the stage that the preliminary response from the group indicated that they had been okay with tonight’s viewers participation member coming onstage with us. We acknowledge {that a} remark, meant to counsel that each one of The Killers’ viewers and followers are “brothers and sisters,” could possibly be misconstrued. We didn’t imply to upset anybody and we apologize. We stand with you and hope to return quickly.