The American rock band The Killers sparked controversy on Wednesday, August 16, following their concert at the Black Sea Arena in Georgia. By inviting a Russian fan on stage, the band drew the ire of the audience, underscoring the delicate nature of Georgian-Russian relations.
“Our intention was never to hurt anyone’s feelings. We offer our sincerest apologies and want to express our solidarity with the Georgian people,” the band stated on their Facebook page, making a veiled reference to the 2008 Russo-Georgian conflict.
A video of the incident, widely shared on social media, showcases Brandon Flowers, the band’s frontman, inviting a fan to join them on stage. His attempt to bridge a connection by calling the fan “one of your brothers” sparked a visceral response from the audience, prompting some attendees to even leave the venue.
In response to the outcry, organizers of the Black Sea Arena also expressed their regrets, clarifying that “the actions of the artist on stage do not in any way reflect the official stance of the Black Sea Arena.”
Georgian band LOUDspeakers, who were the opening act for the night, quickly weighed in, expressing their “disappointment” with the incident, emphasizing their stance on Russia as “an enemy and an occupier.”
The Killers, active for two decades, have achieved global fame with hits like “Mr. Brightside.” As for Georgia, the former Soviet republic, it has become a haven for many Russian exiles, especially since the onset of the Ukrainian crisis. Tensions continue to simmer in the country, particularly due to the presence of Russian troops in pro-Russian separatist territories it lost in the 1990s.
With AFP.
