Daron Malakian Denies System Of A Down ‘Cult’ Label
System Of A Down guitarist and vocalist Daron Malakian addressed online claims about the band during a recent festival set, telling the crowd that the group is not a “cult” and urging fans to focus on unity despite political and personal differences.
During the band’s headlining performance at the 2026 Sick New World festival in Las Vegas, Malakian stopped the show and said the group is “a band, with four members” who “have different beliefs about different things.”
Malakian expanded his point by arguing that disagreement doesn’t have to mean division, adding, “Stop letting the media divide you. Stop letting the government divide you,” before using the band’s own dynamic as an example of working together while holding different views.
The moment adds to the list of onstage speeches that have become part of the group’s modern live shows, following prior controversy when a System Of A Down guitarist drew backlash from Native American fans over comments tied to a separate incident.
System Of A Down have toured intermittently in recent years, making festival appearances a key way for the band to reconnect with fans, and Malakian’s remarks underscored how the group continues to frame its live performances around both music and broader social messaging.
