This is how the singer of Imagine Dragons reacted to the criticism of Serj Tankian

Serj Tankian of System of a Down publicly criticized Imagine Dragons after the band remained silent and did not cancel a planned concert in Azerbaijan last fall. Singer Dan Reynolds has now commented on the matter for the first time.

Tankian has been vocal about how performances by popular musicians in countries with questionable human rights records are seen as a way to “whitewash” and normalize those countries’ actions. In particular, he has spoken out about Imagine Dragons, who agreed to play a show in Azerbaijan and initially wrote them a letter explaining why performing there would send a bad message. There was no response to that letter.

He has since attacked them in interviews, telling Metal Hammer last month: “I don’t know these guys, but who are these people? I don’t understand that mindset,” in reference to the lack of response and the decision to go ahead with the show.

He reiterated his reasoning, explaining, “If I had found out about it as an artist, there’s no way I could have gone and played the show. But some artists do. And I don’t know what to say to those artists. I don’t respect them as people. Screw their art, they’re not good people as far as I’m concerned.”

READ MORE: What Serj Tankian thinks about Sleep Token and other newer bands

What Dan Reynolds said about the game against Azerbaijan

While the band was mostly quiet about the Azerbaijan show, Reynolds addressed the subject in a recent interview with Rolling Stone. When asked if he regretted playing the show (and Israel), the singer replied, “No. I don’t believe in withholding anything from our fans who want to see us play because of what their politicians and governments are doing. I think it’s a very sensitive issue. I think once you start doing that, there are corrupt politicians and warmongers all over the world. Where do you draw the line?”

When asked about Tankian’s public rebuke and whether he had a response, Reynolds replied: “I think I just said it. It’s a sensitive subject and I will never take away our fans’ opportunity to play for them.”

Imagine Dragons are currently preparing for the next leg of their North American tour.

How Serj Tankian reacted to Dan Reynolds’ comments

After Reynolds’ comments in his Rolling Stone interview became public, Tankian responded on social media. In his post, Tankian again addressed Reynolds’ comments about how fans who want to see them play don’t have a chance because of the actions of their politicians and governments.

He replied: “With all due respect, I draw the line at ethnic cleansing and genocide. The dictatorship of Azerbaijan with the support of the people was already in a 9-month starvation blockade of Nagorno-Karabakh, which former @icc prosecutor @luismorenoocampo called genocide, when they decided to play Baku. Would they play in Nazi Germany? Why don’t they want to play in Russia? Because it’s not popular?”

Tankian continued: “You support Ukraine but not the Armenians of Artsakh? The only ‘trick’ is the farce of moral equivalence underlying this hypocritical stance. I have nothing against this guy or his band. I just hate it when artists are exploited to whitewash genocidal dictatorships.”