Chris Brown’s South Africa Concert Sparks Backlash As Women’s Rights Activists Demand Show Be Canceled Due To His History With Domestic Violence
Chris Brown’s South Africa Concert Sparks Backlash As Women’s Rights Activists Demand Show Be Canceled Due To His History With Domestic Violence
Chris Brown’s upcoming show in South Africa could possibly face cancelation.
A recent report from BBC states that the country’s women’s rights activist group, Women for Change, has already collected 20,000 signatures for a petition that seeks to prevent Brown from performing there due to his past history with domestic violence.
The group’s executive director Sabina Walter spoke about what the singer’s appearance in the country would mean for women, who reportedly face the highest rates of femicide and gender-based violence in the world, stating:
“When I saw the news that Chris Brown was coming to South Africa, I was shocked and deeply disappointed.”
She added:
“The petition was started to send a strong message that we will not tolerate the celebration of individuals with a history of violence against women. When someone like Chris Brown is given a platform in a country where GBV is at crisis levels, it sends a damaging message – that fame and power outweigh accountability.”
The issue of Brown’s 2009 conviction for violently attacking his then girlfriend Rihanna has continued to cause complications for him throughout his career.
Since the incident, Brown has reportedly been banned from performing in several other countries, including the UK, Australia, Canada and New Zealand.