South African women’s rights advocacy group, Women for Change, is urging event organizers and government authorities to reconsider allowing Grammy award-winning singer Chris Brown to perform in Johannesburg this December. The group has voiced strong opposition to the artist’s scheduled concerts on December 14 and 15, citing his controversial past as a significant concern.
Chris Brown, a globally renowned R&B star and dancer, recently announced his long-anticipated return to South Africa after nearly a decade. The upcoming performances, which are set to take place at the FNB Stadium, have already sold out. However, Women for Change argues that the timing of the event — coinciding with South Africa’s annual 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence (GBV) — is highly inappropriate.
“Allowing Chris Brown to perform during this crucial period is a direct insult to the millions of women and girls who have been affected by violence, both in South Africa and worldwide,” the advocacy group said in a statement.
The call for action comes as over 10,000 people have signed an online petition demanding the cancellation of Brown’s concerts. The group’s concerns stem from Brown’s well-documented history of violence against women, most notably his 2009 assault on then-girlfriend and fellow musician Rihanna. Despite the conviction and global outrage that followed, Brown has faced multiple accusations of violent behavior in the years since.
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“South Africa is grappling with an ongoing GBV crisis, with femicide rates five times higher than the global average,” Women for Change said. “To welcome someone with a history of violence against women sends a dangerous and harmful message to our society. Instead of elevating individuals with a violent past, we should be focusing on empowering survivors and taking a stand against abuse.”
The group also expressed concern that Chris Brown was granted a visa by the Department of Home Affairs despite his criminal record. Women for Change spokesperson, Bulelwa Adonis, speaking on Newzroom Afrika, criticized the decision, describing it as a failure to uphold the values of a country dealing with a severe GBV epidemic.
Adonis emphasized that the group’s position is not rooted in selective activism but in a consistent stance against individuals with violent histories. “Our mandate is clear — we do not support violent people. It is distressing to see how easily our system grants access to someone with such a troubled past, especially given the dire state of gender-based violence in our country.”
The controversy surrounding Chris Brown’s concert comes at a time when South Africa is actively working to address its GBV crisis, which affects many women and children across the nation. Women for Change believes that allowing Brown to perform not only diminishes the importance of this ongoing struggle but also sends a damaging signal about who society chooses to celebrate.
As the petition gains traction, many South Africans are left questioning the impact of celebrity culture and the message sent by allowing such performances in a country battling a serious social issue. Whether the concert will proceed as planned remains to be seen, but the debate has sparked a renewed focus on the need for stronger action against gender-based violence in South Africa.
