Controversial US “pick-up artist” Julien Blanc has been forced to cut short his Australian tour when his visa was cancelled following a comprehensive protest against his seminars which promote dangerous and abusive behaviour towards women.
“We can confirm Julien Blanc left Australia overnight,” Victorian police said on Twitter. “His assistant is also due to leave shortly.” The pair had planned to stay until December.
The immigration minister, Scott Morrison, said Blanc’s visa was cancelled Thursday night.
“The matter was raised with us and we had it investigated and this fellow looked at,” Morrison told Sky News on Friday.
“This guy wasn’t putting forward political ideas, he was putting forward abuse that was derogatory to women and that’s just something, those are values abhorred in this country.”
Australians were outraged after discovering Blanc, a so-called “date coach”, was holding seminars to teach men how to “pick up” women using physical force and emotional abuse.
Venues in Melbourne refused to host his events after protesters highlighted his videos, Twitter feeds and photos promoting violence against women and abuse as a means of “attracting” them.
Guardian Australian has chosen not to link to these websites.
Blanc’s assistant then attempted to hold a seminar on a boat on Melbourne’s Yarra river on Thursday night, which a handful of men paid to attend. Guardian Australia understands Blanc was hiding at the time, preparing to leave the country.
But protesters rallied along the river and also trailed them by boat, while Melbourne River Cruises cancelled the event as soon as they were told what was happening. It resulted in police escorting the men off the vessel.
Blanc’s visit came as Victoria grapples with the devastating impact of family violence, with the deaths of 29 women and eight children at the hands of violent men in the past year.
Victorian police commissioner Ken Lay who has consistently worked to end violence against women, was so disturbed by Blanc’s behaviour that he released a statement Friday condemning it.
“I’ve seen Julien Blanc’s work,” he said. “To me most of it appears to be deeply disturbing and offensive. Labelling women as objects and actively promoting the abuse of women degrades the dignity of our whole community.
“We want to assure everyone that we have been paying close attention to this issue and appreciate that so many community members have expressed concern.”
Some people have been critical to the response against Blanc, saying it only gives him more underserved attention.
But Lay said he was proud Victorians had taken a stand, saying “it gives me confidence that we are moving in the right direction”.
Victorians are acutely aware of the devastating impact of violence against women.
A coronial inquest into the death of 11-year-old Luke Batty is under way; on Wednesday, Charles Mihayo faced a pre-sentence hearing in Victoria’s supreme court for killing his daughters, aged three and four; and Fiona Warzywoda was allegedly stabbed to death by her partner, Craig McDermott, in April.
Blanc began his seminars in Sydney last week, but the movement gained significant momentum by the time he reached Melbourne.
The #takedownjulienblanc Twitter campaign led by online activist Jennifer Li helped spread word of his talks, and an anti-Blanc Facebook page also emerged. An online petition urged Morrison to deport him.
Protesters holding placards with slogans such as “destroy rape culture” followed Blanc wherever he went.
http://www.theguardian.com/australi...p-artist-julien-blanc-to-quit-australian-tour
“We can confirm Julien Blanc left Australia overnight,” Victorian police said on Twitter. “His assistant is also due to leave shortly.” The pair had planned to stay until December.
The immigration minister, Scott Morrison, said Blanc’s visa was cancelled Thursday night.
“The matter was raised with us and we had it investigated and this fellow looked at,” Morrison told Sky News on Friday.
“This guy wasn’t putting forward political ideas, he was putting forward abuse that was derogatory to women and that’s just something, those are values abhorred in this country.”
Australians were outraged after discovering Blanc, a so-called “date coach”, was holding seminars to teach men how to “pick up” women using physical force and emotional abuse.
Venues in Melbourne refused to host his events after protesters highlighted his videos, Twitter feeds and photos promoting violence against women and abuse as a means of “attracting” them.
Guardian Australian has chosen not to link to these websites.
Blanc’s assistant then attempted to hold a seminar on a boat on Melbourne’s Yarra river on Thursday night, which a handful of men paid to attend. Guardian Australia understands Blanc was hiding at the time, preparing to leave the country.
But protesters rallied along the river and also trailed them by boat, while Melbourne River Cruises cancelled the event as soon as they were told what was happening. It resulted in police escorting the men off the vessel.
Blanc’s visit came as Victoria grapples with the devastating impact of family violence, with the deaths of 29 women and eight children at the hands of violent men in the past year.
Victorian police commissioner Ken Lay who has consistently worked to end violence against women, was so disturbed by Blanc’s behaviour that he released a statement Friday condemning it.
“I’ve seen Julien Blanc’s work,” he said. “To me most of it appears to be deeply disturbing and offensive. Labelling women as objects and actively promoting the abuse of women degrades the dignity of our whole community.
“We want to assure everyone that we have been paying close attention to this issue and appreciate that so many community members have expressed concern.”
Some people have been critical to the response against Blanc, saying it only gives him more underserved attention.
But Lay said he was proud Victorians had taken a stand, saying “it gives me confidence that we are moving in the right direction”.
Victorians are acutely aware of the devastating impact of violence against women.
A coronial inquest into the death of 11-year-old Luke Batty is under way; on Wednesday, Charles Mihayo faced a pre-sentence hearing in Victoria’s supreme court for killing his daughters, aged three and four; and Fiona Warzywoda was allegedly stabbed to death by her partner, Craig McDermott, in April.
Blanc began his seminars in Sydney last week, but the movement gained significant momentum by the time he reached Melbourne.
The #takedownjulienblanc Twitter campaign led by online activist Jennifer Li helped spread word of his talks, and an anti-Blanc Facebook page also emerged. An online petition urged Morrison to deport him.
Protesters holding placards with slogans such as “destroy rape culture” followed Blanc wherever he went.
http://www.theguardian.com/australi...p-artist-julien-blanc-to-quit-australian-tour
