Chris Brown’s South Africa concert is set to take place in December 2024, and fans’ anticipation is over the roof. However, as the event dates draw closer, the singer is facing backlash from women’s rights activists in South Africa. Many have called for the concert’s cancellation, citing Brown’s violent past. Recall that the icon was embroiled in a controversy in 2009 when he assaulted his then-girlfriend, Rihanna. The activists are convinced that allowing a figure like Brown to perform will send a damaging message.
Activists Create Petition to Cancel Brown’s South Africa Concert
It is about two months to Chris Brown’s South Africa concert, and the countdown has already begun. However, while fans look forward to seeing the artist live, South African campaigners for women’s rights aren’t happy about the event. Recently, BBC reported that the activists created a petition to ban Brown from performing in the country. The petition came after the musician sold out tickets to the FNB Stadium in Johannesburg in less than two hours — the stadium is the largest in Africa, with over 94,000 seats.
Speaking to BBC, Sabina Walter, the executive director of Women for Change, expressed her frustration. She said:
“When I saw the news that Chris Brown was coming to South Africa, I was shocked and deeply disappointed.”
Walter explained that they started the petition to send a strong message. She said they made it clear they would not tolerate the celebration of individuals with a history of violence against women. She also noted that giving someone like Brown a platform in a country where gender-based violence was at its peak only sent a damaging message.
Walter revealed it simply meant that fame and power outweighed accountability. The activist also expressed her disappointment in the Department of Home Affairs’s decision to grant a “convicted abuser” a visa. Walter said the decision was “concerning and indicative of systematic failure.”
Fans Are Behind Chris Brown
Although the campaigners called for the concert’s cancellation, the singer’s fans stuck with him. Recently, Prof Mamokgethi Phakeng, former University of Cape Town vice-chancellor, took to social media to share her thoughts. In a post shared on X, she revealed she would attend the event. Phakeng shared that she stood against gender-based violence and condemned it. According to her, perpetrators should face the full might of the law without exceptions or leniency. However, Phakeng emphasized that Brown’s history and upcoming concert were not mutually exclusive.
She said suggesting that enjoying an artist’s concert meant aligning oneself with their past actions was intellectually dishonest. The professor added:
“Music is bigger than the individual.”
Ultimately, Phakeng argued that boycotting Brown’s concert would not end gender-based violence in South Africa. Similarly, many South Africans agree with Phakeng, as Walters has stated that she has even received threats because of the campaign. Nevertheless, she maintains that the criticism they are facing shows a deep disconnection in how society views violence against women. Meanwhile, Walters and other activists aren’t canceling the petition, which has gotten over 20,000 signatures.
#Clique, what do you think of the petition against Chris Brown’s South Africa concert? Do you think he should be allowed to perform? Let us know your thoughts in the comment section.
