Singer Chris Brown says that rather than deny him a visa, Australia should let him perform there to make young people more aware of the issue of domestic violence.
Australian immigration authorities have warned Brown that they are considering rejecting his visa application on character grounds.
But the award-winning R&B artist, who pleaded guilty to assaulting his girlfriend in 2009, argued Tuesday that others can learn from his mistakes.
“I would be more than grateful to come to Australia to raise awareness about domestic violence. I’m not the pink elephant in the room anymore,” he said in comments shared with his 15 million followers on Twitter.
“My life mistakes should be a wake up call for everyone,” Brown tweeted. “Showing the world that mistakes don’t define you. Trying to prevent spousal abuse.”
‘The youth don’t listen to parents’
He is scheduled to play four big shows in Australia in December, but those plans would be torpedoed if Immigration Minister Peter Dutton refuses his visa bid. Authorities have given the singer 28 days to present material making his case for entry.
In his comments Tuesday, Brown highlighted his ability to get a message across to young people.
“The youth don’t listen to parents nor do they listen to PSAs,” he tweeted. “The power that we have as entertainers can change lives.”
Activists lobbying for Australian authorities to block Brown from coming to Australia have gathered more than 14,000 signatures on an online petition.
“Allowing his entry into Australia sends the message that the Turnbull government does not place significant weight and condemnation on men’s violence against women,” the petition says, referring to Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull.
‘He has served his time’
Another petition calling on the government to let Brown in has racked up more than 4,000 supporters on change.org.
“Chris made a mistake 7 years ago at the young age of 19. He has served his time and paid his dues for his crimes,” the petition says, noting that Brown has previously been allowed into Australia “numerous times” since his domestic violence conviction.
Brown was put on probation for five years in 2009 after pleading guilty to one count of felony assault over the attack on Rihanna, his pop star girlfriend at the time. He was jailed for almost three months in 2014 after violating his probation and has previously been refused entry to the United Kingdom and Canada.
“He has shown an abundance of remorse. But here we are 7 years later, still on the same topic,” the pro-Brown petition says. “It’s time we move forward. Perhaps even try to make a positive example of this situation.”
Government minister voiced opposition
But one Australian government minister has made it clear which way she thinks the decision should go.
“People need to understand — if you are going to commit domestic violence and then you want to travel around the world, there are going to be countries that say to you, ‘You cannot come in because you are not of the character that we expect in Australia,’ ” Minister for Women Michaelia Cash said last week.
Cash said in her previous job as assistant minister for immigration she had prevented an unidentified sportsman, reported by Australian media to be boxer Floyd Mayweather, from coming to Australia because of his domestic violence convictions.
