Brisbane Queenslanders hit back after Tyler, the Creator Brands Australia as a 'Country of Racists'
FIERCE debate has broken out as Queenslanders hit back at a US rapper's claims that Brisbane's population is racist.
Tyler Okonma, aka Tyler the Creator, the frontman for controversi
al Los Angeles based hip-hop group Odd Future Wolf Gang Kill Them All, claimed on his social networking site Twitter that he had been the victim of a racial slurs in a Brisbane KFC restaurant.
Prominent Queenslanders and multicultural groups have defended the state, criticising the group also known as Odd Future or by the abbreviation OFWGKTA for their homophobic and misogynist lyrics with references to drugs, murder and rape.
Brisbane hairdressing entrepreneur Stefan Ackerie said the rappers claims were "ill-informed and incorrect".
"I've been here about 50 years, I've never had an incident (of racism)," Mr Ackerie said. "For someone to make such as statement is ignorant."
Brisbane hotelier Sarosh Mehta said while elements of racism existed in Queensland, on the whole it was a "tolerant state".
Mr Mehta said he felt little sympathy for a rap group that used discriminatory language.
"But one time is one time too many, we love to position ourselves as a multicultural melting pot, we're tolerant but there is still an element of racism around with those who are culturally insensitive against (some) people," he said.
"That's including our own indigenous people who face a lot racism day to day."
Ethnic Communities Council of Queensland Advocacy and policy officer Fiona Caniglia said it was impossible to label Queensland as a racist state.
"Any example for racism needs to be addressed. This has raised the debate . . . we can't afford to just say we're not racist. We must have the dialogue about the issue," she said. "We support debate around racism and we do need a state-wide strategy here in Queensland."
African Australian Association of Queensland President Johnson Oyelodi said he was shocked to hear allegations the group had experienced racism.
"Normally artists from the US are welcomed; in my experience I don't think Queensland is more racist."
Fan Ollie Wykeham, 25, said there was no racism in the crowd at the group's concert at West End venue The Hi-Fi on Sunday night.
"People appreciated them and there was definitely no racism towards them," he said.
"They were highlighting the race divide in their audience . . . the fact that their audience only had two black people turn up."