Women For Change says mute Chris Brown’s music and cancel his Joburg concert amid GBV concerns
South African advocacy group “Women For Change” has launched a petition opposing US pop singer Chris Brown’s upcoming concert in Joburg. The organization is calling on the Department of Home Affairs to revoke the musician’s Visa amid concerns about his past indiscretions pertaining to gender-based violence.
This opposition comes as one of the broadcasters prepares to air the “Chris Brown: A History of Violence” documentary on October 27, which is set to reflect on the musician’s violent past with former lovers Rihanna and Karrueche, while also presenting a new alleged victim.
Chris Brown announced on his Instagram that he was coming to perform in South Africa at Johannesburg’s FNB Stadium on December 14. His concert has been billed as the Breezy in South Africa concert, with tickets ranging between R515 and R5,744.
Despite the performers past, the Chris Brown concert is expected to sell out.
The documentary
The documentary, produced by Investigation Discovery, revisits the infamous 2009 assault on pop singer Rihanna that resulted in Brown's conviction, as well as ongoing allegations of domestic violence and sexual assault.
The film is part of ID’s “No Excuse for Abuse campaign”, designed to bring awareness to domestic violence and advocate for survivor justice.
Sabrina Walter, founder of Women For Change, voiced her concerns and has urged the organisers, Big Concerts, to reconsider their decision.
“As an organisation advocating against GBVF (gender-based violence and femicide) in South Africa every single day, we are deeply concerned about the upcoming Chris Brown concert scheduled just days after South Africa commemorates the 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence," said Walter.
The group’s petition, now live on their website, calls on concert promoters to cancel Brown's performance.
“We are calling for Chris Brown's performance to be reconsidered and hope concert organisers will cancel the event. We must not tolerate or celebrate individuals with a documented history of violence against women, especially in a country battling one of the highest rates of gender-based violence and femicide in the world,” said Walter.
The timing of the concert, which comes just days after the nation’s annual commemoration of the 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence, is particularly troubling for the group.
“Hosting Chris Brown sends a harmful message to survivors of abuse and undermines the progress we are trying to make in addressing GBVF in South Africa”.
In addition to the cancellation of the concert, “Women For Change” is urging the Department of Home Affairs to review and revoke Brown’s visa.
“We also expect authorities, particularly the Department of Home Affairs, to review and revoke Chris Brown's visa, as granting a convicted abuser entry to perform here sends the wrong message to survivors of abuse,” Walter explained.
“We need greater accountability in South Africa regarding the entertainment we promote and the policies we enforce to protect women and uphold the values of safety. Otherwise, we will never end the high levels of rape culture and GBVF”.
Walter concluded her appeal by highlighting the importance of community action in the fight against GBVF.
“We urge the public to support this cause by signing our petition on to stop Chris Brown's performance. We always believe in the power of community and that together, we can make a difference.”
IOL