Eventbrite has threatened to remove listings for a US music festival which is charging different ticket prices based upon race.
AfroFuture FEST in Detroit has been offering tickets for $10 to people of colour (POC), with non-POC tickets at $20.
In the Eventbrite listing for the event, which is due to take place in early August, the organisers explained: “Our ticket structure was built to ensure that the most marginalized communities (people of colour) 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.”
See the listing here.
Eventbrite said it has ordered the organisers to amend the pricing structure or it will remove the listing. It said the listing violates its terms and conditions.
A spokesperson said: “Our mission is to bring the world together through live experiences. We strive to provide a platform that enables people to gather for their chosen purpose, and that reflects diverse viewpoints, so long as they don’t violate our terms.
“We do not permit events that require attendees to pay different prices based on their protected characteristics such as race or ethnicity.
“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.”
Rapper Tiny Jag has pulled out of the festival in protest at the ticketing policy.
“I was immediately enraged just because I am biracial,” she told Detroit’s Metro Times. “I have family members that would have, under those circumstances, been subjected to something that I would not ever want them to be in … especially not because of anything that I have going on.”
Share this