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‘A potential threat to public order’: Odd Future — banned from New Zealand

About an hour before they were to get on a plane last night and head to Eminem’s Rapture Festival, Odd Future learned they were banned from entering New Zealand. Clearly, they are not “Royals.”

The Tyler, the Creator-led hip-hop collective were supposed to perform at the Auckland stop on Rapture, filling in for Kendrick Lamar, who cancelled after experiencing a scheduling conflict. But New Zealand officials stepped in and revoked their visa at the last minute. According to 3 News, Odd Future have been deemed “a potential threat to public order”.

Immigration New Zealand said in a statement:

“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.”

3 News also reports that Stop Demand, a local “anti-sexual violence group” pressured officials to ban Odd Future based on the group’s lyrical content. “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.

Odd Future was not expected to re-join Rapture for shows in Australia next week. Tyler took to Twitter last night to express his disappointment in New Zealand’s decision.

The group’s manager, Christian Clancy, also had some things to say… or, um, tweet. But we’re sure he said them out loud while typing.

Here’s video of Odd Future at the Paradise in Boston…