A UK rapper with a history of domestic violence is due to tour Australia, with women’s rights activists calling his presence in the country during an “epidemic of gendered violence against women” an affront to common decency.
Dylan Kwabena Mills, better known as Dizzee Rascal, is one of the UK’s most famous rappers, best known for hit tracks like Bassline Junkie and Bonkers.
Mills is due to tour Australia as part of his upcoming We Want Bass Tour following the release of his latest album, but women’s rights advocates say he should be kept out of the country based on a conviction he received for attacking his former partner.
In April 2022, Mills was convicted of domestic violence assault against Cassandra Jones during an argument between the pair at a south London home in June 2021.
It is understood he pushed his ex-partner to the ground while carrying his young son in his other hand shortly after entering her home.
‘Epidemic of gendered violence’: Femicide Watch
He was sentenced to a 24-week community order, a 12-month restraining order was put in place and he was made to undergo a behavioural education program.
Australian Femicide Watch founder Sherele Moody said welcoming Mills into the country was a decision to platform a domestic violence perpetrator.
“Given the high levels of violence against women in our country, no gendered violence offender should be allowed in,” she said.
“We’ve faced an ongoing epidemic of gendered violence against women for years. Most of that violence is perpetrated by current or former partners of victims or the sons of victims.
“As I write, we have lost 56 women to acts of violence (this year). Almost all were killed by men known to them.”
Ms Moody said the decision to let Mills tour showed that “no matter what a violent man does to women, you’ll be forgiven, you’ll be given a microphone and the spotlight and you will be allowed to maintain your pedestal”.
According to the NSW Bureau of Crime Statistics and Research, domestic violence related assaults have risen steadily since July 2021.
Victims of domestic violence related murder have also steadily risen since 2022, and 100 per cent of adult female victims of domestic violence murdered in NSW since 2021 were killed by male intimate partners.