The announcement of singer Chris Brown’s forthcoming tour of Australia has been met with what one might call a mixed reaction. Fans are overjoyed that the R&B hit-maker is bringing his ‘One Hell of a Nite’ tour Down Under, but a good number of people are outraged.
In an op-ed for News.com.au, Tyson Wray asked how it’s possible that “we’re going to allow a convicted domestic violence abuser, a homophobe and a misogynist who promotes rape culture to visit our shores”, detailing the singer’s record of antisocial behaviour.
Meanwhile, online activist collective GetUp! have launched a petition urging our immigration minister to deny Brown a visa on the grounds that he has a “substantial criminal record” and is therefore in breach of the Australian visa character test.
Now, as FasterLouder reports, one Brown critic has taken their anger to the streets, skilfully defacing several posters promoting Brown’s December arena tour, including this one next to Richmond train station in Melbourne:
Image via FasterLouder
The defacement, which reads “I Beat Women”, refers to the singer’s assault of his then-girlfriend Rihanna in February 2009. The brutal bashing saw Brown sentenced to five years probation, one year of domestic violence counselling, and six months of community service.
The incident was the first in a string of violent incidents involving the singer, whose sentence was extended following a scuffle outside a Washington DC hotel in 2013. The incident yielded a misdemeanour assault charge and two days in jail for Brown.
The singer was subsequently denied entry into the UK during a 2010 tour and was forced to cancel a planned Canadian tour in February this year after his visa application was rejected. Brown’s assault case was closed back in March after a judge found that he’d satisfied the terms of his probation.
Speaking to the Herald Sun, a spokeswoman for Westgate, the promoters behind Brown’s Australian tour, indicated there would not be any issues when it comes to the singer’s entry into Australia and that his 2011 arena tour and a 2012 festival appearance went off without a hitch.
Earlier this year, controversial rapper Tyler, The Creator announced the cancellation of his Australian tour, which was to take place earlier this month, following an outpouring of criticism from activist group Collective Shout.
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The 24-year-old rapper was the subject of a relentless campaign by Collective Shout to cancel his visa. Speaking to 3AW in June, co-founder Melinda Tankard Reist said Tyler “advocates rape and extreme violence against women through his lyrics”.
Before Tyler confirmed the cancellation of his tour, Frontier Touring issued a statement in which they claimed the department for immigration had “raised issues with [Tyler’s] visa application” but that it has not been refused.
Collective Shout sought to ban Tyler on the grounds that the government can bar visa applicants “whose presence in Australia may, because of their activities, reputation, known record or the cause they represent and propagate, vilify or incite discord in the Australian community”.
