Chris Brown’s upcoming concert in South Africa has sparked significant concern among activists highlighting the country’s severe issue with v!olence against women.
Within just two hours of the tickets going on sale, they sold out for the FNB Stadium in Johannesburg, prompting the addition of a second date due to high demand.
However, many people are upset about his performance, given his history of ab_se, including a well-documented incident with Rihanna in 2009.
Activists from the organization Women for Change have started a petition against the concert, which has already gathered over 20,000 signatures.
They argue that allowing a known abuser to perform sends a harmful message about accountability for those in power, particularly in a country facing a gender-based viol3nce crisis.
Despite the backlash, some fans and public figures, like former university vice-chancellor Prof Mamokgethi Phakeng, assert that enjoying Brown’s music does not mean they condone his past actions.
She believes the two positions are not contradictory and that attending the concert won’t magically change the reality of gender-based viol3nce.
Ultimately, activists stress that the fight against violence toward women is much larger than this single concert; it represents a need for societal change where abusers are held accountable.
