Australian Skepta fans will get the chance to see their favourite U.K. rapper live after the "Shutdown" artist has finally been allowed to re-enter the country for his scheduled tour. As NME reports, Skepta was restricted from entering the country due to a visa ban that was put in place after a 2016 incident where Skepta punched a man in the face at a nightclub.
The publication reports that his access into the country was blocked by a delegate for Home Affairs, Minister Peter Dutton, who thought Skepta was a “risk of harm to the Australian community which is unacceptable.” Skepta pleaded guilty to the injury of the man he punched and was fined $2,500 as well as $10,000 to the victim.
In a recent meeting to allow his entry into the country, Skepta, born Joseph Junior Adenuga, said his previous actions were “spontaneous and impulsive” and claimed that he now “uses a high-profile platform to raise awareness around issues associated with racism, youth socio-economic disadvantage and homelessness."
The Austrailian authorities accepted that Skepta “intend[ed] to rest as much as possible” while in Australia this time, “rather than attend nightclubs and similar venues."
His first stop is in Melbourne on September 26th.
