Chris Brown denied entry to Canada, cancels gigs

R&B star Chris Brown was forced to cancel a string of sold-out shows in Canada on Tuesday (24Feb15) after he was denied entry into the country due to "immigration issues".

The Kiss Kiss hitmaker and singer Trey Songz, along with rapper Tyga, were slated to hit Montreal and Toronto on their Between the Sheets tour on Tuesday and Wednesday (25Feb15), but Brown was unable to cross the border to make the shows.

Concert promoters in both cities confirmed the axed gigs on their Twitter.com accounts, citing "immigration issues" for the last-minute cancellations, and Brown also took to the microblogging site to confirm the news.

In the tweets, which have since been deleted, he wrote, "Unfortunately I will not be able to perform in front of sold out crowds in Montreal & Toronto. The good people of the Canadian government wouldn't allow me entry. I'll be back this summer and will hopefully see all my Canadian fans!"

This isn't the first time Brown has missed an appearance in Canada - last year (14) he was scheduled to perform at Drake's OVO Festival in his native Toronto, but was also denied entry.

According to Canada's Global News, Brown's criminal record, stemming from his 2009 assault on then-girlfriend Rihanna, was behind the latest customs clash. In adherence to Canadian immigration law, a person who "committed an act outside Canada that would be a crime" in Canada can be barred from entering.

Earlier this month (Feb15), the singer canceled a 3 March (15) tour stop at Minneapolis, Minnesota's Target Center due to "scheduling issues", but sources tell Billboard poor ticket sales were to blame.