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Chris Brown is set to perform at Johannesburg’s First National Bank Stadium in South Africa on December 14 and 15. While one of the nights has already reached full capacity, there are numerous individuals who are opposed to the R&B artist’s appearance, particularly in light of his purported violent behavior.
Earlier this month, the organization Women For Change initiated a petition urging the South African authorities to rethink their choice to allow the “No Guidance” artist to take the stage. “Upon hearing that Chris Brown was heading to South Africa, I was astonished and profoundly disheartened,” remarked Sabina Walter, the executive director of the non-profit, to BBC.
She added, “The petition was launched to convey a firm stance that we reject the glorification of individuals who have a track record of violence against women.” At the time of this report, the petition had garnered over 39,000 signatures, with more than 6,500 collected on just Wednesday (October 16).
Brown addressed the backlash on Tuesday (October 15) by commenting on Women for Change’s TikTok repost concerning the situation: “Can’t wait to come.” It remains uncertain if he was being sarcastic or sincere, but his statement attracted a notable 1,000 responses and nearly 7,000 likes.
The two shows in South Africa are part of the artist’s “The 11:11 Tour,” which concluded its North American segment in August. With Ayra Starr and Muni Long performing alongside him on select dates, the Grammy-winning artist made stops in major cities including Boston, Philadelphia, Houston, Oakland, and Las Vegas.
Prior to this tour, Brown released the deluxe edition of 11:11, his 11th studio album, introducing new singles such as “Go Girlfriend,” “Delusional,” and “Freak.” In the latter track, he threw shade at Quavo, igniting a series of diss tracks and exchanges between them online.