Alex Terrible deleted his posts about the trans community after a message convinced him they could lead to others being bullied.
Alex Terrible spent a day arguing with critics on Instagram. Then somebody asked him what would happen if his family were on the receiving end of it, and he took the posts down.
The Slaughter To Prevail frontman had been responding to calls for an apology to the trans community following the band’s appearance at Bloodstock Open Air, their first UK festival headline slot. He also claimed a protest had been mounted to stop the set going ahead.
His opening post carried footage from the performance with text reading (according to Loudwire): “I apologize to the trans community for the fact that we played Bloodstock. It was completely sold out and people actually enjoyed our performance.”
Alongside it he wrote: “I genuinely don’t understand what I’m supposed to apologize to the trans community for. Can someone please explain it to me? I’ll apologize, no problem. I’m not too proud to do it.
“I was told they even protested to try to get our performance canceled before we went onstage. I understand that not everyone likes us, and that we especially don’t appeal to people those who lack critical thinking. But that’s okay. I used to be like that myself. The important thing is to keep changing for the better. And that’s what I wish for everyone. @bloodstockopenair team and @vicky.hungerford thank you for believing in us ! much love for all of you,” Terrible added.
No evidence of a protest at the site has been produced, and the claim rests on what Terrible says he was told. Bloodstock has not commented.
A series of exchanges followed with people in his comments and direct messages. Several asked him to speak with trans people, to publicly support trans fans, or to acknowledge that the abuse appearing under his posts was itself the problem. He rejected each suggestion, arguing that he holds no objection to anyone’s identity and simply does not want other people’s beliefs directed at him.
“I genuinely don’t care how you identify, who you sleep with, how you dress, what religion you follow, what political views you have, or anything else. I literally DO NOT CARE, guys! What I DON’T LIKE is when someone tries to push their values or beliefs onto me.”
He said he did not regard the trans community as enemies and that he tries to treat everyone with respect. Regarding why he would not simply issue a statement of support, he replied that he did not see why he should be expected to speak publicly for any group, listing several countries and causes he said he would then be asked to endorse in turn. That post ended: “Everyone deserves love, and trans too.”
The tone changed when one person framed their message as an appeal rather than an attack, putting it to him that his replies were driving harassment and asking how he would feel if his own family were targeted.
“I never think that way actually. I act that way cause I can defend myself,” Terrible said. “I don’t mind that I have a lot of faith in the internet, I just know how to deal with it because I’m dealing with it for 10 years already… I can stand for myself and my family, but actually this man or girl is right because a lot of people might get bullied because of my posts or how I act and a lot of people might attack them and I don’t want that. I don’t want it at all and I didn’t think about that.”
The posts were removed shortly afterwards.
The criticism has a long history. Terrible has faced sustained scrutiny over past comments on gender and sexuality and over previous associations with the far right, including a sonnenrad tattoo that has since been covered up.
Slaughter To Prevail formed in Yekaterinburg in 2014 and are now based in Orlando, Florida. Terrible, born Aleksandr Shikolay, and British guitarist Jack Simmons are the only constant members, joined by Dmitry Mamedov, Mike Petrov and Evgeny Novikov. Their third album Grizzly was released in July 2025 through Sumerian Records, and the Bloodstock booking came as part of a UK and European run built around it.
