Entertainment
Chris Brown Concert Sparks Debate on Gender-Based Violence in South Africa
Chris Brown’s upcoming concert in South Africa has ignited a heated conversation about the country’s high levels of gender-based violence (GBV) and the message his performance might send. The Grammy-winning R&B star quickly sold out tickets for his show at Johannesburg’s FNB Stadium, Africa’s largest venue, with a second date added to meet the overwhelming demand.
However, not everyone is celebrating. Many are concerned about Brown’s history of violence, particularly against women, and question whether hosting his concert sends the wrong signal in a nation grappling with some of the highest rates of femicide and GBV in the world.
Sabina Walter, executive director of Women for Change, expressed her disappointment over Brown’s visit, stating, “I was shocked and deeply disappointed.” The advocacy group has started a petition against his performance, which has already garnered over 20,000 signatures. Walter emphasized that allowing Brown to perform in a country where gender-based violence is rampant “sends a damaging message—that fame and power outweigh accountability.”
South Africa’s GBV crisis is staggering, with a rape reported every 12 minutes, though experts believe many incidents go unreported. Campaigners argue that Brown’s presence could undermine the country’s ongoing battle to address this issue.
In contrast, some public figures, like former University of Cape Town vice-chancellor Mamokgethi Phakeng, have defended their decision to attend the concert. Phakeng shared that she condemns GBV but does not believe attending the show is synonymous with endorsing the artist’s past actions. “To suggest that enjoying a concert aligns you with every past action of the artist is, at best, simplistic and, at worst, intellectually dishonest,” she said.
As the concert dates approach, the debate continues, with both sides voicing their perspectives on the complex intersection of art, accountability, and activism in South Africa.
Two concerts in Russia by Ye, the rapper formerly known as Kanye West, have officially been cancelled after weeks of uncertainty.
West had been scheduled to perform at the Gazprom Arena in St Petersburg on 10 and 11 October.
However, there had been confusion over whether the concerts would take place after the stadium said it would not host the rapper for what would have been the biggest performance by a Western artist in Russia since the country invaded Ukraine in 2022.
In a post on the messaging app Telegram, concert organisers Say Agency confirmed the shows had been cancelled with “sincere regret”.
“The Ye concerts in St Petersburg will not be able to take place on the scheduled dates,” the Moscow-based agency said.
“We will issue an official statement regarding the status of the project and our plans in the near future.”
Gazprom Arena said in August that it had not signed a rental agreement with the concert promoters, meaning the concerts could not take place at the venue.
Say Agency had previously said it was working to resolve the issue with the stadium before confirming that the shows could not go ahead.
The stadium also acknowledged that it had received complaints about West’s planned performance.
West has recently apologised for a series of antisemitic and pro-Nazi comments he made in the past, saying he had “lost touch with reality” as a result of his bipolar disorder.
Celine Dion has kicked off Paris Fashion Week with a surprise performance at L’Oreal’s annual show.
The Canadian singer, who was diagnosed with the rare neurological condition stiff person syndrome in 2022, took to the runway at the end of the show.
Dion wore a ruched, full-length black velvet gown before being joined by several famous ambassadors for the French beauty brand, including Viola Davis, Simone Ashley, Aja Naomi King and Eva Longoria.
The singer recently performed a comeback show in Paris earlier this month, her first since a 2020 concert in New Jersey. That was the final show of her tour before the Covid-19 pandemic brought it to a halt.
Paris Fashion Week, which is showcasing women’s spring/summer collections, runs until 6 October.
Actress Viola Davis was greeted by cheers from the crowd as she joined Dion under the stars in the French capital.
Kendall Jenner also walked at the show, wearing a sheer black halterneck dress with a thigh-high split and an ivory corset underneath.
Supermodel Cara Delevingne, meanwhile, appeared on the runway in a sparkling red sheer dress with a train.
Pop star Rihanna also brought her fashion credentials to Paris on the opening day, wearing a shimmering copper two-piece over sheer black lingerie.
She attended the Matières Fécales fashion show from the front row. The label was behind Zendaya’s angel wings dress at The Odyssey premiere in New York this summer.
Wicked star Cynthia Erivo was also in the French capital for an event hosted by Tiffany and the Musée des Arts Décoratifs.
Taylor Swift has become the most successful artist in the history of the MTV Video Music Awards after winning the video of the year award on Sunday.
The singer entered the ceremony tied with Beyoncé on 30 VMA wins but moved ahead after taking home the night’s top prize for the visuals for her track The Fate of Ophelia.
The song is taken from her 2025 album The Life of a Showgirl.
The original Queen of Pop, Madonna, won artist of the year, best dance and best collaboration alongside Sabrina Carpenter for their dancefloor-filler Bring Your Love.
The song was the lead single from Madonna’s 2026 album Confessions II.
Swift also received the inaugural artist director award after writing and directing the Ophelia music video herself.
She dedicated the new award to the “ultimate showgirl”, saying: “I think we were all very lucky to share this planet with Dolly Parton for a time.”
The 36-year-old also debuted the music video for her new song Patient Zero, starring actors Colin Farrell and Dakota Johnson, during the Los Angeles ceremony hosted by rapper Snoop Dogg.
The dark gothic thriller is Swift’s first music video since she married NFL player Travis Kelce.
The song is one of four new tracks featured on The Life of a Showgirl: The Encore, which was released last week.
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