Thousands of fans sign petition to cancel Chris Brown concert: “A harmful and dangerous message”
Chris Brown is currently in hot water as fans in South Africa protest his upcoming gig at the FNB Stadium in Johannesburg. Women for Change, an organisation that advocates for the rights of women and children, has set up a petition to try to stop the gig.
The executive director for Women for Change, Sabina Walter, has spoken out about the decision to try to stop the Chris Brown gig. She spoke about his history with domestic violence and said that he shouldn’t be playing the gig because of said history.
“When I saw the news that Chris Brown was coming to South Africa, I was shocked and deeply disappointed,” she said, “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 continued, “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.”
Despite Chris Brown’s persistent popularity amongst decades of controversy, the petition is gaining traction. It has already received 20,000 signatures as the page on Change.org cites some of Chris Brown’s previous incidents with domestic violence, including his conviction in 2009 for assaulting Rihanna. It also states that South Africa is currently in a crisis of gender-based violence.
“Allowing a man with such a history of violence to perform in South Africa, a country grappling with one of the highest rates of gender-based violence and femicide (GBVF) in the world,” it says, “Sends a harmful and dangerous message.”
The backlash comes as a new Chris Brown documentary is set to premiere. Chris Brown: A History of Violence will air on Investigation Discovery later in October, and the show will detail who Chris Brown is, his success and how abuse has followed him around throughout his career.
The documentary will also allegedly feature an interview with a new accuser who has never spoken out about Chris Brown before. “I’ve not spoken about this matter publicly,” she said, “But that’s the only way he can be stopped.”
Brown is also currently facing a lawsuit of $16million in damages from a man he allegedly attacked in a bar in 2023. Abe Diaw claims the pop star smashed a bottle over his head, which knocked him unconscious and forced him to fall to the floor. Brown hasn’t responded to the allegation and is currently facing default judgment.
For help, advice or more information regarding sexual harassment, assault and rape in the UK, visit the Rape Crisis charity website. In the US, visit RAINN.