The GOOD Party has called for the cancellation of Chris Brown's upcoming concerts in South Africa, citing his history of domestic violence. Brown is scheduled to perform at two sold-out shows at FNB Stadium this December.
However, his concert date aligns with the government’s 16 Days of Activism against gender-based violence (GBV), raising concerns about the message these concerts may send to the public.
The GOOD Party’s call for cancellation comes amidst growing pressure from anti-GBV groups.
Women For Change, an organisation advocating against GBV, has launched a petition demanding that Brown’s visa be revoked. The petition, addressed to Home Affairs Minister Leon Schreiber, had gathered over 41,000 signatures at the time of publishing.
The 16 Days of Activism campaign, which runs from November 25 to December10, is a pivotal time in South Africa’s fight against GBV. It brings together government, civil society, and activists to highlight the urgent need to address the country’s GBV crisis.
South Africa has one of the highest rates of gender-based violence in the world, making the campaign a crucial platform for advocacy. Allowing a performer with a history of violence towards women to take the stage during this time has sparked outrage and concern.
Brown, known for his controversial past, responded to the backlash on social media, replying to Women For Change’s concerns with a defiant “Can’t wait to come” on Instagram.
This reaction has intensified the debate on whether the singer should be allowed to perform in the country, given his abusive history.
In a statement released by the GOOD Party on Thursday, October 17, GOOD National Youth Chairperson Kaden Arguile and GOOD Women representative Rachel Wapad expressed deep concern over the potential impact of Brown’s concerts.
“Given the South African GBVF pandemic, we cannot separate the art from the artist,” they stated. The party highlighted alarming Crime Statistics from April to June 2024, showing a rise in violent crimes against women, including 966 murders and over 13,000 assault cases reported during this period.
🚨 The GOOD Party says NO to abuse! Chris Brown’s concert sends the wrong message. We can't normalise abusers. No stage for abusers. Stand up for women’s safety!
Read more: https://t.co/pa8ByhLFsk#GOODParty #NoStageForAbusers #EndGBVF #SpeakUp #DontShutUp pic.twitter.com/DolyJUIgxX
Brown’s history of violence includes his infamous 2009 assault on singer Rihanna and a 2017 restraining order filed by his ex-girlfriend Karrueche Tran.
Next week, Investigation Discovery is set to air a documentary detailing Brown’s abusive behaviour, particularly toward women, further fuelling the conversation around his controversial presence in South Africa.
The GOOD Party’s anti-GBVF campaign, “Don’t Shut Up. Speak Up”, has been pushing for greater accountability, and they now call on South Africans to take action in line with their advocacy.
The party believes that allowing Brown to perform during such a critical time sends the wrong message in a country battling with a GBV crisis.