Yup, you read that headline correctly.
On this week’s edition of ‘Things You Should Never Do As A Concert Promoter,’ organizers at Detroit event AfroFuture FEST have to make some drastic changes after they decided to charge caucasian concertgoers twice as much as people with dark skin.
Related: Convicted Fraud Billy McFarland Reportedly Writing Fyre Fest Book From Prison
According to reports, AfroFuture Fest initially set its early-bird ticket pricing at the cost of $10 for POC (“people of color”) while folks with white skin were charged $20. The controversial ticketing move resulted in Detroit rapper Tiny Jag pulling out of performing at the event.
AfroFuture organizers defended their racially-biased ticket prices on the event page, saying, “Our ticket structure was built to insure [sic] that the most marginalized communities (people of color) are provided with an equitable chance at enjoying events in their own community (Black Detroit). Affording joy and pleasure is unfortunately still a privilege in our society for POC and we believe everyone should have access to receiving such.”
After earning a fair amount of blowback from Fans, Eventbrite, and even threats from white supremacists, the festival took to Twitter on Sunday to announce they’ve realigned their 2019 ticketing model to charge the same price to all music fans.
“For the safety of our community, family, elders who received threats from white supremacists, & youth who were subjected to seeing racist comments on our IG pg, Afrofuture Fest has changed our ticketing model to $20 General Admission & suggested donation for nonPOC on @eventbrite.”
“We do not permit events that require attendees to pay different prices based on their protected characteristics such as race or ethnicity,” Eventbrite also mentioned due to their involvement as the ticketing agent for the event. “In this case, we have notified the creator of the event about this violation and requested that they alter their event accordingly. We have offered them the opportunity to do this on their own accord; should they not wish to comply we will unpublish the event completely from our site.”
While the promoters may have had good initial intentions, you’re not really helping the concept of race relations when making some people pay more or less money than based on skin color, regardless of the end goal.
Equally-priced tickets for the Detroit event, which takes place early next month on August 3rd-4th, are on sale here.
[H/T New York Post]