The Killers apologize for offending fans in Georgia with the Russian “brother” statement

The Killers have apologized after frontman Brandon Flowers invited a Russian fan on stage during a concert in Georgia to play drums on a song.

He told the crowd to treat the Russian fan as their “brother”, and was booed and left from parts of the arena.

Georgia, which gained independence from Russia in 1991, has a long history of tension with its neighbor.

Russia invaded Georgia in 2008 and it still occupies part of the former Soviet country.

In a statement posted on social media after the concert, The Killers said: “Good people of Georgia, it was never our intention to offend anyone!

“We have a long-standing tradition of inviting people to play the drums, and it seemed from the stage that the initial response from the crowd indicated they were fine with tonight’s audience participation member coming on stage with us.

We realize that the comment, which is intended to imply that all Killers fans are ‘brothers and sisters’, could be misunderstood.

“We did not mean to upset anyone and apologize. We stand with you and hope to return soon,” he added.

The backlash from sections of the audience occurred after Flowers – as is now the case at their concerts – invited a fan on stage to play drums with them on their track Reasons Unknown, towards the end of Tuesday’s concert at the Black Sea Arena, near the city of Batumi.

“We don’t know the manners of this land, but this man is Russian. Do you agree with a Russian coming here?” Flowers were heard asking the audience.

Fan footage recorded at the concert shows the audience responding to his question with a mixture of boos and cheers.

The singer addressed the topic later, asking fans, “You can’t tell if someone is your brother? It’s not your brother?”

“We all part at the borders of our country? Am I not your brother from America?”

Georgian public opinion on the ongoing war is overwhelmingly supportive of Ukraine.

Flowers urged fans to celebrate “that we’re here together,” before adding that he didn’t want the event to get “ugly.” “And I see you my brothers and sisters.”