NEW YORK, United States (AFP) — R&B star Chris Brown, notorious for brushes with the law including an assault on then-girlfriend Rihanna, ditched a performance Tuesday in Canada at the 11th hour after he was barred entry.

“Unfortunately I will not be able to perform in front of sold-out crowds in Montreal and Toronto,” the controversial US singer wrote on Twitter.

“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!”

Brown made the announcement hours before he was to go on stage at the 21,273-capacity Bell Centre hockey arena in Montreal. He was due to play a similar-sized show Wednesday in Toronto.

Promoter Evenko tweeted that the show was cancelled due to “immigration issues,” and most ticket holders would be automatically refunded.

Brown did not elaborate on the reasons why he was denied entry, but many countries refuse to let in individuals with criminal records.

Brown in 2009 pleaded guilty to assaulting Rihanna, who suffered facial injuries and was forced to cancel an appearance at that year’s Grammy Awards.

Scandalizing her fans and advocates against domestic violence, Rihanna later resumed a relationship with Brown.

Brown was also arrested in Washington in 2013 for hitting a fan outside his hotel. He pleaded guilty in September.

Brown last week released a collaborative work with rapper Tyga entitled “Fan of a Fan: The Album”