Controversial rap collective Odd Future has been banned from entering New Zealand.
The group was scheduled to appear at the Rapture festival in Auckland this weekend, but Immigration New Zealand has confirmed the group's entry visas have been revoked.
In a statement released to 3 News this afternoon, Immigration New Zealand said:
"The Immigration Act 2009 provides that entry permission may not be granted where there is reason to believe there is, or is likely to be, a threat or risk to public order or the public interest."
"Odd Future has been deemed to be a potential threat to public order and the public interest for several reasons, including incidents at past performances in which they have incited violence. In one instance, a police officer was hospitalised following a riot incited by Odd Future."
Odd Future's manager Christian Clancy has taken to Twitter to vent after the group were notified.
"sorry new zealand [sic] apparently this group of kids that have inspired the sh*t out of me for the last few years are a threat to society," he said.
"and thanks for the hour before flight heads up. after approving and issuing visas."
A campaign by anti-sexual violence group Stop Demand, sought to have the group pulled from the show at Western Springs - a council-owned venue - due to explicit and sexual content in their songs, some which reference rape.
"We reject entirely the minimisation of such extreme women-hating vitriol by this group as mere artistic expression, or lyrics that don't appeal to sections of society," founder Denise Ritchie said in a letter to Auckland Councillors, calling for the act to be scrapped.
Odd Future were not originally scheduled to perform at the concert, which features similarly-controversial rapper Eminem as the headline act. The Los Angeles-based group were announced as a replacement for Grammy-nominated rapper Kendrick Lamar, who withdrew last week citing a scheduling issue.
Odd Future were also axed from the Big Day Out in 2011, following complaints about homophobic lyrics in their songs. However, the group performed a side-show in Auckland.
Member Earl Sweatshirt and other Odd Future acts recently performed at Auckland's Laneway Festival and at a side-show in Wellington.
3 News
source: newshub archive
