Dizzee Rascal faces backlash over Australian tour following domestic violence conviction

British rapper Dizzee Rascal, born Dylan Kwabena Mills, is facing criticism from women’s rights activists ahead of his upcoming Australian tour. The backlash stems from his 2022 conviction for assaulting his ex-fiancée, an incident in which he was found guilty of pushing her to the ground. An appeal against the conviction was rejected in January 2023.

The tour, promoting his ninth studio album ‘We Want Bass’, is scheduled to begin on November 29 at the Sydney Opera House. Subsequent performances will take place in Melbourne, Adelaide, Perth, and Byron Bay, concluding in late December.

Sherele Moody of Australian Femicide Watch has criticized the decision to allow the rapper entry into the country, arguing that offenders of domestic violence should be barred. Moody also raised concerns regarding Australia’s visa character test, noting that while prison sentences exceeding 12 months typically trigger a failure, shorter sentences do not automatically prevent entry.