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Odd Future Banned From New Zealand

Lenny Kravitz, Grace Jones, Lauryn Hill, Lion Babe, Thundercat, SZA & More Rock The Afropunk Festival 2015 in Brooklyn, NY.

Odd Future has been banned from playing in New Zealand, where they were originally scheduled to open for Eminem this weekend, after immigration authorities deemed them a threat to public order. Odd Future was slated to play an open-air show in Auckland on Saturday. NZ's Border Operations Manager Karen Urwin commented on the country's decision to decline visas to six members of the OF cohort after learning of a 2011 incident in Boston that lead some witnesses to claim that Odd Future incited fans to attack the police:

"It's not a decision we take lightly and not one that happens often," Urwin said.

She also addressed concerns that the group's sometimes controversial lyrics were considered in the decision to ban them:

"If we banned people who used swear words, we wouldn't have many people left in New Zealand," she said.

Immigration New Zealand issued an official statement:

"Odd Future has been deemed to be a potential threat to public order and the public interest for several reasons, including incidents at past performances in which they have incited violence."

Tyler, The Creator responded to the decision via Twitter:

While Odd Future's experience is the latest incident, this is not the first time New Zealand has denied entry to high-profile travelers from the U.S. Mike Tyson was banned in 2012 because of his criminal history. Musician David Rovics was banned in 2013.

Spotted at AP.