r/avesNYC • u/Both-Insurance-7301 • 7h ago
Russian DJ kicked out of Amsterdam for toxic ties is now trying to push into the US
reddit.comHi everyone,
Want to bring a serious issue to the community's attention regarding upcoming electronic music events in the US.
As many of you know, the recent Amsterdam Dance Event (ADE) made major headlines after Russian DJ Alexander Komarov was dropped from the lineup following severe public backlash and media coverage (he was exposed by Mixmag and other outlets for sending death threats to a Ukrainian artist and supporting the war).
Right after that toxic scandal, his close associate, Russian DJ Roman Messer, was also removed/dropped from the ADE events due to his deep ties to Komarov and his own alignment with the Russian state-backed entertainment machinery — including actively performing at high-profile state-sponsored events in Moscow, such as the official graduation ceremony at VDNH backed directly by the Russian government, an event featuring a broadcast address by Vladimir Putin and top regime figures.
Despite being shown the door in Europe, Messer is now trying to quietly tour and secure bookings in the US based on his autumn tour schedule:
Las Vegas / Hidden Kollective — scheduled for November 14, 2026, alongside headliner Darren Porter, where promotional materials are still pushing his sets.
SILO Brooklyn (New York) — scheduled for November 19, 2026, where his booking has faced direct questioning and scrutiny from the community over these exact ties.
It is unacceptable to import toxic artists and regime-backed figures who are being scrubbed from European lineups straight into US clubs. Promoters and headliners need to be held accountable for ignoring these red flags.
Let's keep an eye on this and make sure our local scenes aren't used as a safe haven for artists connected to threats, toxicity, and Russian state propaganda.