Latest news with #ChristianRock
CBC
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- CBC
Hundreds attend concert for MAGA-affiliated musician at Toronto church after Vaughan denies permit
Controversial Christian rocker Sean Feucht, known for his affiliation with the MAGA movement, performed at an Etobicoke church packed with hundreds of attendees on Sunday. The concert was originally scheduled to be played in Vaughan's Dufferin District Park. The city denied the show's permit request on the grounds of "health and safety, as well as community standards and well-being." Feucht, who unsuccessfully ran for U.S. Congress as a Republican in 2020, is also a missionary and an author who has spoken out against the 2SLGBTQ+ community, abortion rights and critical race theory. Feucht told the audience on Sunday that he was "disturbed" by the backlash from municipalities on the first leg of his tour, but that he'll continue to exercise his rights and freedoms. Several municipalities, including Vaughan, Gatineau, Que. ,and Montreal, have refused permits due to concerns with public safety. A spokesperson from the Montreal mayor's office said the show "goes against the values of inclusion, solidarity and respect." "The place where I got the biggest persecution and resistance was in Canada. That's wild. Not Iraq or Turkey, but Canada," Feucht told the audience on Sunday. He said the tour has been a trending topic on social media, which has brought more awareness to the movement. "More cameras, more news outlets, everyone is talking about worship in Canada. It's provoking a national dialogue," he said The event's attendees came in from across the Greater Toronto Area and as far as Cambridge, Ont., with some saying they were there to support the cause after hearing of the cancellations. Feucht's "brand of Christianity" is worrying given how it is being politicized and is exclusive, instead of being inclusive of all people, said Deana Dudley, a reverend at the Metropolitan Community Church of Toronto (MCC). MAGA-affiliated musician's Canadian concert permits denied 4 days ago American musician Sean Feucht has had multiple event permits for his Canadian concert tour denied or revoked by cities and Parks Canada, as some oppose his affiliation with the MAGA political movement. Dudley said it was upsetting to see Feucht claim "persecution" of Christians over the denied permits. Government-owned public venues don't always allow religious events to take place there and the MCC has also been denied permissions for that reason, she said. "If he wants to talk about persecution, he should talk to some of the LGBTQ+ refugees that we work with, who have had to flee their home countries," she said. Dudley said her interpretation of Christianity believes God has "unconditional love for all people," while Feucht's controversial stances make the religion feel exclusive for those who agree with those beliefs. It's important to protect people's constitutional rights of freedom of expression and religion, no matter their stance or controversial opinions, said Christine Van Geyn, litigation director at the Canadian Constitution Foundation. "The government doesn't get to pick and choose, except in very, very high and exceptional cases," she said. Instead of shutting down an event, Van Geyn said people should engage with it to share their views and, if possible, protest. By censoring an event, a movement is able to gain notoriety and even more attention, she warned. "This performer has become a martyr for a cause," she said. "That's the reason we're having this conversation. That's the reason everyone knows this performer's name is because of the attempts to silence." The City of Toronto said in a written statement that a permit was not necessary for the event on Sunday as it was held on private property.
Yahoo
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
MAGA-affiliated musician's concert draws condemnation from City of Montreal, but goes ahead as planned
A performance at a Montreal church by Sean Feucht, a controversial Christian rock musician and rising star in the MAGA movement, went ahead as planned on Friday, despite attempts by the City of Montreal to shut it down. Earlier in the day, Catherine Cadotte, a spokesperson for the Montreal mayor's office, told CBC News that the show "goes against the values of inclusion, solidarity and respect" and that the venue, located in the Plateau-Mont-Royal borough, would be advised that the concert cannot take place. "Freedom of expression is one of our fundamental values, but hateful and discriminatory speech is not accepted in Montreal and, as in other Canadian cities, the show will not be tolerated," she wrote in French. Feucht, an American, who is also a missionary and author, has expressed anti-diversity, anti-2SLGBTQ+ and anti-women's rights views on his platforms. In recent days, Feucht has dealt with several cancellations on his Canadian tour, including in Quebec City. Following the cancellation in Quebec City, Feucht announced that he had found an alternate venue — Église MR in Montreal's Plateau-Mont-Royal borough. When asked specifically why the city would try to cancel the show, Cadotte specified that the church does not have the permits to use its venue for a show. Meanwhile, in a post on X, Feucht wrote the church wasn't backing down, and told his followers it was time to "take a stand for the gospel in Canada." It wasn't clear, however, if he was referring to the city's plans to stop his performance. Just ahead of the 7 p.m. start time, Feucht, who was preparing to enter the church, didn't appear troubled by the city's requirements for a permit. "This is not a performance, it's a church service," he said. "I don't think you need a permit to worship inside a church." Feucht, however, took to the stage inside the church and began singing, accompanied by several musicians, as worshippers swayed along to the music. Meanwhile, a crowd gathered outside in protest, banging spoons on pots and pans, amid a heavy police presence in the area. When Feucht announced his Canadian tour, he stated in a promotional video that he had made it his mission to save Canada and that through him, hundreds of believers would be freed, healed and delivered. Since Wednesday, the singer has had his permits to perform revoked in other Canadian cities including Halifax, Charlottetown, Moncton, Gatineau and Vaughan, Ont.
CBC
5 days ago
- Entertainment
- CBC
City of Montreal intends to shut down MAGA-affiliated musician's concert
The City of Montreal intends to shut down a performance by Sean Feucht, a controversial Christian rock musician and rising star in the MAGA movement. Feucht, who is scheduled to perform Friday evening in a church in Montreal's Plateau Mont-Royal borough has expressed anti-diversity, anti-2SLGBTQ+ and anti-women's rights views on his platforms. In recent days, Feucht has dealt with several cancellations on his Canadian tour, including in Quebec City. Following the cancellation in Quebec City, Feucht announced that he had found an alternate venue — the church in Montreal. Catherine Cadotte, a spokperson for the Montreal mayor's office, told CBC News that the show "goes against the values of inclusion, solidarity and respect" and that the venue would be advised that the concert cannot take place. "Freedom of expression is one of our fundamental values, but hateful and discriminatory speech is not accepted in Montreal and, as in other Canadian cities, the show will not be tolerated," she wrote in French. But when asked specifically why the city would try to cancel the show, she specified that the church does not have the permits to use its venue for a show. Meanwhile, in a post on X, Feucht wrote the church wasn't backing down, and told his followers it was time to "take a stand for the gospel in Canada." It wasn't clear however if he was referring to the city's plans to stop his performance. When he announced his Canadian tour, Feucht stated in a promotional video that he had made it his mission to save Canada and that through him, hundreds of believers would be freed, healed, and delivered.
CBC
7 days ago
- Entertainment
- CBC
Canadian cities cancel concerts of Christian rocker, MAGA star Sean Feucht
Quebec City is the latest Canadian city to cancel a scheduled appearance by Sean Feucht, a controversial Christian rock musician and rising star in the MAGA movement. Mark Breslin, CEO and co-founder of Yuk Yuk's comedy club, says the only time event cancellations are warranted is when material is 'egregiously wrong and potentially violent.'
Yahoo
7 days ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Quebec City cancels concert of MAGA musician, following lead of other Canadian cities
Quebec City is the latest Canadian city to cancel a scheduled appearance by a controversial Christian rock musician and rising star in the MAGA movement. Sean Feucht was scheduled to play a free concert on Friday at ExpoCité, a site owned and managed by Quebec City. It was part of a series of events scheduled across North America for his "Revive in 25" tour. But the singer has been facing backlash in several cities. Feucht, who unsuccessfully ran for U.S. Congress as a Republican in 2020, is also a missionary and an author who has spoken out against the 2SLGBTQ+ community, abortion rights and critical race theory on his website. His set performance on Wednesday in Halifax changed locations on Tuesday after Parks Canada revoked the organizer's permit to play at the York Redoubt National Historic Site. In a news release, Parks Canada stressed that the event was not being put on by the agency, but rather was being hosted by a permit holder. 'New elements' prompt Quebec City to terminate contract On Wednesday, Quebec City confirmed in a statement that ExpoCité has decided to terminate the contract and therefore cancel the event on its site, following "new elements" that has been brought to its attention. "The presence of a controversial artist was not mentioned in the contract between ExpoCité and the promoter of the concert scheduled to take place on its site this Friday," read the city's statement. The city said the reservation for the artist was made by promoter BURN Canada, a worship ministry. Hours before the city's decision to terminate the contract, news of the Quebec City concert was met with apprehension by some groups and opposition councillors at city hall. Transition Québec's party leader Jackie Smith said she was disappointed that the city was allowing this type of event to take place. "The city should not make its spaces available to propaganda groups that insult our communities and seek to divide us on the basis of our identities," read her statement. "We don't want this hatred in our neighbourhoods." Feucht was scheduled to play in Charlottetown on Thursday, but the city said Wednesday it had revoked his permit. Another concert planned for Moncton, N.B., on Thursday was also scrapped when that city revoked the booking. He is scheduled to play in the Ottawa and Toronto areas over the weekend and will take his tour to Western Canada in late August.
