Bring Stray Kids: The Dominate Experience to theatres in South Africa
Dear Ster-Kinekor Team,
We are writing to you not as individuals, but as a collective voice — the voice of South African STAYs who feel unseen, unheard, and once again left behind.
We recently learned that Stray Kids: The Dominate Experience will not be screened at Ster-Kinekor due to what has been described as a “lack of interest.”
With all due respect, we must say this clearly and honestly: that conclusion is mistaken. There is interest. There is demand. And there are thousands of South African fans who are ready, willing, and desperate to support this screening.
Stray Kids are not a niche act. They are a global phenomenon with one of the most dedicated fandoms in the world. Their concerts sell out internationally. Their albums break records. Their fans show up — loudly, passionately, and loyally. South Africa is no exception.
We exist, we are many, and we have waited patiently for years to be acknowledged. For South African fans, opportunities like this are incredibly rare. International tours often bypass our country. Fan meetings are out of reach. Events that connect us to the artists we love are few and far between.
When a global cinematic experience like this becomes available — something we can finally participate in without needing to leave the country — being told that we do not matter enough to be considered is deeply painful.
Cinemas are more than buildings that screen films. They are places where people come together to feel something — joy, excitement, connection, belonging. They survive because audiences show up, because communities support them, because people are given reasons to walk through their doors.
We are telling you, sincerely and openly: we would show up.
This is not just about Stray Kids. It is about inclusion. It is about recognizing a passionate community that has been overlooked for far too long. It is about giving people a moment of happiness in a world that has grown increasingly heavy.
South African STAYs are asking — no, pleading — for you to reconsider. Even a limited screening. Even select locations. Even a trial run. Give us the chance to prove that we are here, that we are invested, and that your faith in us would not be misplaced. We are not asking for charity. We are asking for opportunity. An opportunity to celebrate artists who have helped many of us through difficult times. An opportunity to gather as a community. An opportunity to finally feel included in something the rest of the world already gets to experience.
Please do not mistake our quiet for absence. Please do not mistake distance for disinterest. We are here. We have been here. And we are ready.
With hope and determination,
South African STAYs — and one voice among many,
(thank you to @chanslittlehowler for the text)
Caryn on behalf of South African STAYS Contact the author of the petition