SLAUGHTER TO PREVAIL vocalist Alex Terrible has responded to mounting criticism after waving a Russian flag during the band’s performance at the Warped Tour 30th Anniversary kickoff event in Washington, D.C. on June 14th. The move, made during their opening set at the RFK Stadium Grounds, has stirred a wave of online backlash—largely due to ongoing global tensions stemming from Russia’s war in Ukraine.
The symbolism of waving the flag in the U.S. capital, amid the current geopolitical climate, quickly ignited polarized reactions across social media. While some defended Terrible’s display of national pride, others questioned the timing and implications of the gesture.
Alex Terrible, known both for his explosive stage presence and candid online persona, is no stranger to controversy. However, SLAUGHTER TO PREVAIL’s rising international profile—especially among more diverse and mainstream crowds at events like Warped Tour—has put the vocalist under greater public scrutiny.
Despite his open embrace of Russian heritage, Terrible has previously condemned the invasion of Ukraine. In 2022, he publicly denounced the war and has since described himself as a “man of peace.”
Following the Warped Tour performance, he posted a brief message alongside footage of the flag-waving moment: “I’m grateful to represent my country worldwide. I really want to make this legacy of the Russian heavy metal band smashing the stages everywhere and spreading a good message. Motivate people with our music to not give up on yourself and do more than you think you can do. @vanswarpedtour we appreciate your hospitality! Crowd was insane.”
As the online discourse grew more heated overnight, Terrible followed up with a longer, more reflective statement, addressing the broader implications of public perception and online culture: “Over the years of being in the spotlight, I’ve come to clearly understand just how selfish people can be. No matter what you do, it’s never enough for them. If you don’t do what people expect or want from you — you’re bad. If you do? It’s still not enough. You need to do more. If you do something, but it goes against their opinion? You become the enemy. You should be canceled, thrown in jail, even killed.
“People start saying things about you that you never said or did. They wish you harm. And then, in the same breath, they talk about freedom of speech and democracy. It’s all double standards and hypocrisy.
“I especially like the type of people who are ‘for everything good and against everything bad.’ I consider them to be some kind of genius saints burdened with holy morality and the right to decide for everyone how they should live and who they should be.
“With the rise of the internet, you see just how many of these people there actually are — and you start to understand why the world is the way it is.
“We are still light-years away from being a civilized, tolerant, and highly educated society. Many people still live in black-and-white thinking, unable to grasp how complex and ambiguous this world truly is.
“We live in a society, and whether we like it or not, the opinion of others matters. What people say or think about us affects us. But with each passing year, I realize that I care less and less about what others think of me. I don’t even care anymore what my close ones think.
“No matter what, I’m going to act the way I want to — the way that benefits me. And at the same time, I will still love my loved ones and try to love all people on this planet.
“It’s hard work! But I believe it’s the most interesting work in life”
Reeder, the visionary behind Metal Addicts, has transformed his lifelong passion for metal into a thriving online community for metal aficionados. As a fervent devotee of black metal, Reeder is captivated by its dark, atmospheric, and often unorthodox soundscapes.