Music

Tyler, the Creator says he's banned from Australia

by Jeremy Mersereau

Loveable scamp/bon-vivant Tyler, the Creator is no stranger to controversy, riling people up with his incendiary lyrics and irrepressible energy wherever he goes.

However, what my grandmama would call his “poor attitude” may have cost him more than some Mountain Dew commercials this time. In a pair of tweets sent out yesterday, the Odd Future founder says he’s been banned from Australia, congratulating feminist group Collective Shout’s Director of Operations, Coralie Alison, and telling her that she “won”:

Collective Shout, a Australian group dedicated to ending the objectification of women in media, wrote a letter to Australian immigration minister Peter Dutton back in June in an attempt to deny Tyler a visa. The letter highlights some of Tyler’s more uh,’problematic’ lyrics and actions over the past few years, and also calls attention a 2013 incident in which Tyler insulted and threatened Collective Shout member Talitha Stone during a concert at which she was present.

Going by Tyler’s tweets, it appears they may have been successful in barring him from the country. Very classy of Tyler to call out an individual member of Collective Shout, as his legions of adolescent fans with mature, well-developed decision-making skills will surely take the news of his ‘banning’ with understanding and aplomb, and will certainly in no way terrorize Ms. Alison to the best of their ability. Or wait:

But all is not lost for Australian Tyler fans: According to Mashable Australia, no decision has yet been made by the Department of Immigration and Border Protection regarding the status of Tyler’s visa. Frontier Touring, who are responsible for organizing the Australian tour, have also stated that no information has yet come to light regarding the visa, and that ticket holders will be notified when things are confirmed either way. Because if there’s one way to ensure your favourite is granted a visa to enter your country, online threats and histrionics will help your cause immeasurably. Please note sarcasm, Odd Future army.

Tyler isn’t alone in the Australia hate: Fellow rapper Azealia Banks also expressed her discontent with the continent yesterday, taking to Twitter to slam the crowds and her return after playing the Splendour in the Grass festival: