The Killers apologise as Brandon Flowers booed for bringing Russian fan on stage
The Killers have issued an apology after Brandon Flowers invited a Russian man to perform with them on stage in Georgia.
The American rockers were playing in the former Soviet state, which has been partly occupied by Russia since its 2008 invasion, when frontman Brandon, 42, asked an audience member to come and play the drums with the band. However, after revealing the guest's nationality, some of the crowd weren't happy.
In video footage circulating online, Brandon said, amid audible boos: "We don't know the etiquette of this land but this guy's a Russian. You OK with a Russian coming up here?" After the band performed For Reasons Unknown with their new recruit, the Mr Brightside star was booed again when he raised the subject a second time.
The Killers have apologised after Brandon Flowers invited a Russian man to perform with them on stage (Formula 1 via Getty Images)Brandon said: "You can't recognise 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?" Brandon urged the audience to celebrate the fact "we're here together", adding: "I don't want it to turn ugly. And I see you as my brothers and my sisters."
Mariam Nikuradze, a Georgian journalist, claimed fans walked out after the song, adding when the band finished their set, they didn't say goodbye to the audience at the end of the show. Following the furore, The Killers issued a statement apologising, insisting they hadn't meant to offend anyone.
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They wrote on their official social media accounts: "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 coming onstage with us.
"We recognise 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 apologise. We stand with you and hope to return soon."
Russia has occupied 20% of Georgian territory since its 2008 invasion. Georgians have long insisted their grievance is only with the Russian state, not with the Russian people. However, since the start of the war in Ukraine last year, many Russian citizens have headed for the safety in the country, which gained independence from Soviet rule in 1991. Some Russians are reported to have faced a backlash In Georgia with “F**k RUSSIA” and “F**K PUTIN" appearing on walls in the country's capital, Tbilisi.
David Kezerashvili, who was Georgia’s defence minister when Russian invaded in 2008, said: “It’s not hard to see why a touring American rock band could have unwittingly upset local sentiment on what is a complex issue for many outside the country to understand.
“For a start, a huge disconnect exists between the attitudes of ordinary Georgians and their current government when it comes to Russia.
“While the Georgian public believes their future lies with the West, their leaders increasingly lean towards Moscow.
“Most in the country were appalled when the government refused to impose sanctions on Moscow following its invasion of Ukraine, and that anger only deepened when a threat was made to strip Georgians of their citizenship if they dared to join the fight on the front line.
“People are naturally disturbed at the growing influence of the Kremlin in Georgia’s government, and there is the nagging suspicion among many that Vladimir Putin is taking over the country by stealth.
“The events which took place at the concert perfectly illustrate these concerns.”
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