Tyler, The Creator Cancels Australia

After weeks of speculation, Tyler, The Creator canceled the Australian leg of his Cherry Bomb World Tour Aug. 10. He was to play four theatres Sept. 3-8.

Photo: Dani Canto / Primavera Sound
Primavera Sound, Barcelona, Spain

It is not known if the move was related to a campaign by grassroots feminist activist group Collective Shout to have his visa denied.

The rapper 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.”

There has been some confusion for some weeks over the status of the tour. In late July he wrote on his Twitter account he had been banned from Australia and singled out one of the activists, Coralie Alison, saying “You won, I’m happy for you.”

But promoter Frontier Touring said no ruling had been made by the Immigration Department. Collective Shout lobbied immigration Minister Peter Dutton to refuse him entry, citing lyrics about “rape and extreme violence against women.”

Alison received rape and death threats on social media from the rapper’s fans after his first posting about the cancellation. Tyler, The Creator distanced himself from their comments.