Activists Call Tyler, The Creator Tour Cancellation “An Absolute Win”

Collective Shout, the activist group who rallied to ban Tyler, The Creator from touring Australia, say that the rapper’s recent tour cancellation is “an absolute win”, despite continuing to receive threats from Tyler fans.

Yesterday, Tyler, The Creator cancelled his Australian tour, and said in a statement, “We would much rather come to Australia when it isn’t surrounded in controversy. I love my fans there and hopefully I’ll be back soon. Don’t do drugs.”

Now, Collective Shout Campaigns Manager Caitlin Roper has spoken to triple j‘s Hack program about Tyler pulling the plug, and she says the group has welcomed the news.

“This is an absolute win,” Ms Roper told triple j‘s Tom Tilley. “You can always tell it’s a win because we start getting rape and death threats so we know something’s up. It took about two minutes before the first one came through.”

Collective Shout petitioned Immigration Minister Peter Dutton in June, calling for Tyler to be banned from touring Australia due to his “misogynistic hate speech against women”.

Ms Roper says she rejects the argument that Tyler’s lyrics are “art” which shouldn’t be read literally. “It’s art that is exploitative and degrading to women,” she says.

“It’s at the expense of women and survivors of rape and violence. It’s art that’s designed to generate profits for Tyler, The Creator and record companies.

“So we have to consider all that when we just say ‘it’s art’. The content doesn’t exist in a vacuum, it exists in a society where women are victims of rape and sexual violence and discrimination and we have to consider that.”

Last month, Tyler, The Creator said he had been “banned” from Australia — a claim which promoters said was false before announcing the cancellation of his tour.

Since then, Collective Shout members have received hateful messages from Tyler, The Creator fans, and Tyler has denied responsibility for the attacks. Catch a handful of recent examples, below.

Watch: Tyler, The Creator – Fucking Young

Tyler, The Creator Australian Tour Dates

Thursday, 3rd September CANCELLED

The Tivoli, Brisbane (AA)

Tickets: Ticketmaster

Saturday, 5th September CANCELLED

Luna Park, Sydney (AA)

Tickets: Ticketmaster

Sunday, 6th September CANCELLED

Forum Theatre, Melbourne (18+)

Tickets: Ticketmaster

Tuesday, 8th September CANCELLED

The Capitol, Perth (18+)

Tickets: Oztix

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