Chris Brown’s South African Concert Receives Backlash From Women’s Rights Org

Following news of a documentary exploring R&B icon Chris Brown’s troubled past being announced last month, the singer is now being petitioned to cancel his forthcoming show in South Africa. South African organization Women for Change has campaigned against the star, claiming that his show will “send the wrong message” to its citizens, given his past history with violence. The org advocates for the rights of women and children. The forthcoming Dec. 14 show, which sold out the FNB Stadium in Johannesburg in less than two hours, has now been met with over 20,000 signatures petitioning the music event. “When I saw the news that Chris Brown was coming to South Africa, I was shocked and deeply disappointed,” stated Sabina Walter, executive director of Women for Change. “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.” She added, “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.” Breezy has previously been banned from other countries, including Australia, Canada, and New Zealand. South Africa reserves the right to deny entry for anyone with past convictions. Per Statista, South Africa has one of the highest rates of femicide and gender-based violence in the world. According to the country’s second-quarter crime statistics for 2023-2024 reported by Afro Barometer, there were 14,401 assaults against female victims in July, August, and September. Former University of Cape Town vice-chancellor Prof Mamokgethi Phakeng took to X to share that she’d be attending the concert if CB does show up.“ I am totally against GBV and condemn it. I believe that those who perpetrate GBV should face the full might of the law without exceptions or leniency,” she wrote. “But let me be clear, just in case the message didn’t sit well: I am going to attend Brown’s concert if he comes. These two things are not mutually exclusive.” She added, “To suggest that enjoying a concert aligns you with every past action of the artist is, at best, simplistic and, at worst, intellectually dishonest. [The] music is bigger than the individual. Attending the concert does not magically erase our moral stance on GBV. WFC director Walters also shared that Team Breezy has been standing strong in their stance to see CB hit the stage overseas. “Supporters of Chris Brown seem ready to defend him at any cost,” she stated. “The criticism we are facing for our petition speaks volumes and actually reveals a deep disconnect in how we, as a society, view violence against women. Selective outrage is dangerous because it perpetuates the rape culture and high levels of violence women face every day.” She went on, “This fight isn’t just about this concert. It’s about changing the narrative in South Africa, where abusers are held accountable and where violence against women is never excused, overlooked, or forgotten.

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