Chris Brown will perform to thousands of fans at Scotland’s national stadium on Tuesday despite his history of assault and domestic violence.
Chris Brown on stage
Women’s groups are furious that convicted domestic abuser Chris Brown will play Hampden – while Irish rappers Kneecap were axed from TRNSMT.
R’n’B star Brown, 36, will perform to thousands of fans at Scotland’s national stadium on Tuesday despite his history of assault and domestic violence.
In 2009, Brown was sentenced to five years probation and community service for attacking ex Rihanna. The Bajan star was pictured with a split lip after Brown hit her.
Critics including domestic abuse charities accused promoters DF Concerts of “double standards” – after the same organisers dropped Kneecap from TRNSMT over a political spat.
The move came after calls by John Swinney to axe the Irish hip hop act, with the First Minister saying the political rhetoric “crossed the line”.
Kneecap were axed from TRNSMT line-up
Kneecap band member Mo Chara was charged with a terror offence over allegedly displaying a Hezbollah flag at a gig in London last November.
Jenni Snell, CEO of Scotland’s Young Women’s Movement, said: “It is deeply disappointing that performers with histories of violence against women are able to play major, national venues like Hampden Park.
“With the recent context of Kneecap being dropped by TRNSMT following controversy sparked by a political campaign against them, we are forced to question why a known domestic abuser playing a major Glasgow venue has not generated any controversy whatsoever.
“When you consider TRNSMT and Chris Brown’s UK tour are run by the same promoter, it’s only right these double standards are scrutinised.”
R&B singer Chris Brown arriving at Southwark Crown Court(Image: Jonathan Brady/PA)
Scots promoter DF Concerts –behind next month’s TRNSMT festival in Glasgow Green – is a subsidiary of Live Nation which is organising Brown’s tour. The singer has been able to continue performing despite appearing in court this month over an alleged bottle attack against a man at a London nightclub in 2023.
Brown has pleaded not guilty and was freed on conditional bail.
Domestic abuse charity Glasgow Women’s Aid accused the entertainment industry of repeatedly “turning a blind eye” to violence against women.
The group said: “Kneecap were recently removed from a UK festival line-up because of political views. They were deemed too controversial and dropped from the bill. Yet artists accused of repeated violence against women continue to tour, headline and profit with little pushback.
“Promoters, venues and sponsors claim to stand against violence against women but continue to hand a mic to men who harm.”
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Male Allies Challenging Sexism (MACS), which has been running its #NoAbusersOnStage campaign since 2023, said: “Chris Brown’s booking at Hampden underlines how accepted male violence against women is in our society.
“Within the music industry and the general public the vast majority of people won’t care enough about Chris Brown being a violent abuser. Promoters and venues will be more interested in making money and his fans will care more about his music than his ‘past actions’.”
Jenni Snell of the Young Women’s Movement(Image: Ellie Morag)
Snell added: “We’re currently seeing a rise in sexism across society, driven by misogynistic influencers, celebrities and politicians in an increasingly vitriolic landscape…
“We need to be mindful of the message we send to young women about how they are valued in society when domestic abusers are celebrated, and of the message this sends to young men too.”
Glasgow City Council said its role is to “ensure events are safe and properly organised”, adding: “Any issues in relation to an act performing at an event are a matter for the promoter of the event.”
DF Concerts, Brown and Kneecap were contacted for comment.