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Slaughter To Prevail frontman Alex Terrible is at the center of controversy after waving a Russian flag during the band's June 14 performance at the 'Vans Warped Tour' 30th Anniversary kickoff in Washington, D.C.
Alex Terrible opened their set at the RFK Stadium Grounds with a Russian flag in his hands. It has sparked notable online backlash. Critics are pointing to the symbolism of displaying the flag in the U.S. capital amid ongoing global tensions between Russia and Ukraine.
However, for Alex Terrible, the gesture was one of personal and cultural pride. The artist has issued a detailed official statement regarding the incident.
Alex Terrible's complete statement following the Warped Tour flag backlash
Alex Terrible's real name is Aleksandr Shikolai. He is the lead vocalist for Slaughter To Prevail, the Russian deathcore outfit. Alex took to his official Instagram handle to address the matter.
His full statement is as follows:
"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."
Alex Terrible described the internet as a place filled with "double standards and hypocrisy," where, according to him, criticism often comes from people claiming moral superiority.
"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.
He emphasised that the world is much more complex and nuanced, while a lot of people still think in black and white.
"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."
Alex went on as he opined about society and how his perception of self has changed with time.
"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."
Alex Terrible concluded, stating:
"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."
Slaughter To Prevail European/UK tour 2026: Complete list of dates
Alex Terrible's Slaughter To Prevail has an early 2026 tour schedule, with support from Dying Fetus and Suicide Silence, and Annotations of an Autopsy on select UK dates. The confirmed dates and venues are as follows:
- Monday, January 13, 2026 – Tilburg, Netherlands @ O13
- Tuesday, January 14, 2026 – Brussels, Belgium @ Ancienne Belgique
- Thursday, January 16, 2026 – London, UK @ O2 Academy Brixton (feat. Annotations Of An Autopsy)
- Friday, January 17, 2026 – Manchester, UK @ O2 Victoria Warehouse (feat. Annotations Of An Autopsy)
- Saturday, January 18, 2026 – Birmingham, UK @ O2 Academy (feat. Annotations Of An Autopsy)
- Monday, January 20, 2026 – Zurich, Switzerland @ Halle 622
- Tuesday, January 21, 2026 – Milan, Italy @ Alcatraz
- Friday, January 24, 2026 – Berlin, Germany @ Velodrom
- Saturday, January 25, 2026 – Hamburg, Germany @ Sporthalle
- Wednesday, January 29, 2026 – Oslo, Norway @ Sentrum Scene
- Thursday, January 30, 2026 – Stockholm, Sweden @ B-K
- Friday, January 31, 2026 – Frederiksberg, Denmark @ K.B. Hallen
- Sunday, February 2, 2026 – Frankfurt, Germany @ Jahrhunderthalle
- Monday, February 3, 2026 – Ljubljana, Slovenia @ Media Center
- Tuesday, February 4, 2026 – Budapest, Hungary @ Barba Negra
- Thursday, February 6, 2026 – Munich, Germany @ Zenith
- Friday, February 7, 2026 – Leipzig, Germany @ Haus Auensee
- Saturday, February 8, 2026 – Karlín, Czech Republic @ Forum Karlin
The Russian flag moment has seemingly generated debates about whether patriotism can be separated from global politics, especially for artists performing internationally. For Alex Terrible, the answer seems to be yes.
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