Chris Brown is trending on X for being the first R&B artist ever to fill out the FNB Stadium in Johannesburg, South Africa. About 20 years into his career, the two-day event saw well over 90,000 attendees, thus maxing out the 94,000 occupancy rate.
As for why it is famous, the FNB Stadium is the largest stadium in South Africa. It was built in 1989. It sits between Soweto and Johannesburg, and the main goal of building the arena was to serve as a venue for national sports events and more.
Not long after, it became one of the home grounds for Kaizer Chiefs, and by 1996, it became the primary venue for the soccer tournament, African Cup of Nations. It also hosted the 2010 FIFA World Cup.
Chris Brown breaks records in South Africa, the nation revolts
Chris Brown's event was slated for December 14 and 15, 2024, the first of which was held just yesterday. The singer showed up for his Breezy in South Africa concert, presented by Big Concerts, making a comeback in almost a decade.
As reported by Royal Exchange, the singer landed in Johannesburg, flanked by several bodyguards, and at the venue, security measures were intensified to help with seamless operations.
As soon as tickets for the event opened up, Brown's concert was a sell out in less than two hours. Per BBC, the high demand led to the announcement of a second December date for the concert.
Notably, though, Chris Brown's stint at the FNB Stadium was not without controversy, as just this October, his concert raised concerns about the nation's skyrocketing levels of violence against women.
Sabina Walter, executive director of Women for Change, said in a statement to BBC:
"When I saw the news that Chris Brown was coming to South Africa, I was shocked and deeply disappointed."
Per the Pinnacle Gazette, a local journalist also weighed in:
"Whether you’ve been vocal or silent about your support of Chris Brown... there’s no denying you’re part of the discourse surrounding GBV. Supporting his music means potentially ignoring the valid fears and concerns of women, especially as South Africa grapples with being the GBV capital of the world."
By October 2, a petition to Leon Schreiber, Minister of the Department of Home Affairs of South Africa, was initiated with the goal of halting the artist from performing at the stadium.
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At the time of writing, the page has raised a whopping 52,000 signatures out of the 75,000 goal. Upon its launch, momentum picked up and within days, 20,000 signatures were raised, though it slowed down over time.
At the beginning of December, Women for Change stated they didn't receive any response to the petition from the Department of Home Affairs or the concert promoters. The petition asked for Brown's visa to be revoked.
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