US dating coach Julien Blanc will not be allowed into Singapore: MHA

US dating coach Julien Blanc will not be allowed into Singapore: MHA

SINGAPORE - US-based "pick-up artist" Julien Blanc has been barred from Singapore shores after an online petition against him holding his seminars here went viral.

The petition, hosted on change.org, asked Minister for Home Affairs Teo Chee Hean to keep Blanc and his US-based group Real Social Dynamics (RSD) out of Singapore.

The petition was started on Nov 14 by Singaporean Charis Mah and had gathered more than 8,000 supporters as of 1pm on Nov 26.

Miss Mah wrote: "Julien Blanc and his group RSD are a group of sexist and racist 'pick up artists', who have made a living by teaching men how to violate women through physical and emotional abuse.

"Julien gives seminars on how to pick up women using a variety of highly abusive techniques, such as economic abuse, isolation, coercion and threats, intimidation, emotional abuse, and 'male privilege'.

"According to information earlier obtained from the RSD website, he may attempt to enter Singapore in the near future... Do not associate Singapore with a man who chokes women around the world as part of his pick up game. Please help us stand with the women of Australia, Canada, Korea, Japan, Brazil, the UK, and women everywhere, and do not let Singapore play host to events where men are being taught how to violate and harass women."

In an update posted on the page today, Mah said she received a reply from the Ministry of Home Affairs stating that Blanc will not be allowed into Singapore.

It said: "The Immigration & Checkpoints Authority, in consultation with the Ministry of Social and Family Development, will not allow Mr Blanc into Singapore, especially if he is here to hold seminars or events that propagate violence against women or to participate in other objectionable activities in Singapore."

Blanc was forced to cut short a visit to Australia earlier this year when his visa was cancelled following widespread protests. He has also been banned from countries such as Brazil and Britain.

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yamadak@sph.com

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