The Grammy winner sold out tickets to Johannesburg’s FNB Stadium, which has over 94,000 seats and is the biggest stadium in Africa, in less than two hours. A second December date was added due to the high demand.
The R&B musician has faced blowback from some who did not want him to perform because of his violent history, despite the overwhelming enthusiasm.
“I was shocked and extremely disappointed to learn that Chris Brown would be visiting South Africa,” stated Sabina Walter, executive director of Women.
To prevent the US performer from playing, the organization has launched a petition. There are already more than 20,000 signatures on it.
In a nation like South Africa, Ms. Walter stated, “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.”
One of the highest incidences of gender-based violence and femicide worldwide is seen in South Africa.
Approximately one rape is reported in the nation every twelve minutes, and it is believed that many more go unreported.
“It sends a damaging message—that fame and power outweigh accountability—when someone like Chris Brown is given a platform in a country where GBV is at crisis levels,” Ms. Walters stated.
