Weekly updates:

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Weekly updates


This morning news has emerged that controversial rapper Tyler, The Creator of the OFWGKTA collective has been barred from performing in Australia. Details are scarce save for a pair of tweets sent from his official twitter account. The first congratulates Coralie Alison, director of opertaions at Collective Shout, the campaigning movement that opposes the objectification of women in media.

 

Tyler and Collective Shout have tangled with each other in the past due to the rapper’s graphic and often explicit lyrical content, and Collective Shout have been influential in getting Tyler’s New Zealand visa revoked on previous occasions. In 2013 they campaigned at length to revoke Tyler’s Australian visa unsuccessfully, and now in the lead up to his planned tour in September they have resumed their efforts.

There is a petition live on their site calling for Immigration Minister Peter Dutton to block the artist from entering the country that currently has just under 1,600 signatures. Collective Shout that Tyler’s lyrical content qualifies him for the category of ‘Controversial Visa Applicant’, meaning that he is an individual whose:

“Presence in Australia may, because of their activities, reputation, known record or the cause they represent and propagate, vilify or incite discord in the Australian community or a segment of that community, or represent a danger to the Australian community or a segment of that community.”

Tyler has long had an affinity with Australia, name checking the suburb of Fitzroy on ‘Slater’ on his 2013 album Wolf. At this stage no word has emerged from Collective Shout or the official Odd Future channels to clarify Tyler’s statements, so stay tuned for further details.

UPDATE: A spokesperson from the Department of Immigration has denied that Tyler’s visa application has been refused. They have confirmed that they have received the application and that it is under consideration, but that no decision has been made as of yet. At this stage Tyler has not been barred from performing in Australia, contrary to his own tweets. Full statement below.

“The Department can confirm that Mr Okonma has a current visa application with the Department, and that no decision has yet been made. All non-citizens who wish to enter Australia must satisfy the requirements of the Migration Act 1958 and Migration Regulations, including any conditions attached to their visa and character requirements.
The Australian Government supports freedom of speech.  However, the exercise of this freedom involves a responsibility to avoid vilification of, inciting discord in, or representing a danger to, the Australian community. In cases where a person is assessed as representing a risk that they may vilify or incite discord, or otherwise represent a danger to the Australian community, a person may be refused a visa.”

And from Frontier Touring:

“With respect to media reports that Tyler, The Creator’s visa has been refused, Frontier would like to advise that this is not the case. The department for immigration has raised issues with the visa application but it has not been refused and Frontier will update ticket holders as soon as more information comes to hand.”

Looks like it’s not time to panic yet.