‘Let’s have fun’: Gayton gives away Chris Brown tickets amid backlash

After IGNORING a petition to cancel Chris Brown’s SA concerts, Minister Gayton McKenzie vowed to give away tickets – from his own pocket!

Despite his department IGNORING a petition by an anti-gender-based violence organisation to cancel the concert of US singer Chris Brown, Minister of Sports, Arts and Culture Gayton McKenzie has vowed to give away free tickets in the name of “fun.”

Last week, the NGO Women For Change submitted a petition to authorities, including promoter Big Concerts and Home Affairs Minister Leon Schreiber, to revoke the performer’s visa.

Chris – who has a long history of domestic violence – performs this weekend, just days after the 16 Days of Activism campaign comes to an end.

The shows will take place on 14 and 15 December at the FNB Stadium in Johannesburg.

GAYTON MCKENZIE GIVES AWAY FREE CHRIS BROWN TICKETS

On Thursday, 12 December, Gayton McKenzie revealed he would be giving away free tickets to two upcoming concerts.

One was Limpopo singer Makhadzi’s One Woman Show on 21 December at the Peter Mokaba Stadium.

The other was the two controversial shows of Chris Brown.

He tweeted: “Ke Dezemba is opening tomorrow. I will be giving away tickets here on social media to Makhadzi, and Chris Brown shows to people who cannot afford them. This is not government money. Let’s have fun and support these superstars.”

While many X users were excited at the giveaway, others were not impressed.

@Ta2edGangsta: “Chris Brown being given the stage is a huge slap in the face to women.”

@LesleyWells61: “Dear @GaytonMcK, supporting @chrisbrown  as a minister is not a good look in a country where GBV is rampant. It doesn’t matter that it’s your own money!”

Women For Change – whose petition to cancel Chris Brown’s concerts was also addressed to Gayton McKenzie – also responded.

The organisation tweeted: “This is absolutely unacceptable and disgusting!”

This is absolutely unacceptable and disgusting! @GaytonMcK , where is the R100,000 that was meant to find Joslin, and what funds did you claim would be donated to a “Joslin Fund”?

This behaviour is nothing short of a scam.

— Women For Change (@womenforchange5) December 12, 2024
‘GO TO THE CONCERT’
In a media briefing in October, Minister Gayton McKenzie encouraged South Africans to support the controversial singer.

This, despite the airing of an Investigation Discovery documentary titled: Chris Brown: A History of Violence.

Addressing the public on his 100 days in office update, Gayton claimed that he would prioritise hosting big music festivals in the country to attract high-profile artists.

The minister then nonchalantly mentioned Chris Brown, who had been trending at the time for his comments “taunting” those who had signed a petition to cancel his shows.

Gayton said: “South Africans love dancing. Chris Brown’s concert was sold out in two hours. Our people are hungry for international acts”.

He added: “Don’t go any further, go to the Chris Brown concert.”

Surprisingly, Minister of Home Affairs Leon Schreiber ignored the petition and calls to revoke the singer’s visa on the grounds that he is an “undesirable person.”

The South African has repeatedly contacted the Departments of Home Affairs, Sports, Arts & Culture, and Big Concerts for comment. None has been received.