Blanc was in Australia to host a series of seminars on how to attract women. His repertoire includes choking women, grabbing their heads and pushing them toward his groin and advising his followers how to destroy a woman's "bitch shield".

Critics were quick to condemn what they said was Blanc's promotion of abuse towards women. Social media lit up with the hashtag #takedownjulienblanc, which trended for the rest of the week. Thousands of people tweeted and posted comments on Facebook against Blanc; almost 35,000 signed an online petition.

"Julien Blanc is sexually assaulting women and then teaching rooms full of men to do the same. He should be arrested,"one Twitter user wrote.

The hashtag phenomena, spilled over into the real world, culminating in a protest on the banks of the Yarra River on Thursday night. The river cruise boat that was hosting him cancelled the event before it started and asked police to remove men who had come to hear Blanc speak after they refused to leave.

Although Blanc has left the country, in his wake he has left an argument over freedom of speech.

His advice may be deplorable, but Blanc's seminars are not illegal. Should he have been allowed take to the stage without disruption, let alone kicked out of the country?

Simon Breheny, director of the legal rights project at the Institute of Public Affairs, said it would have been better to let his seminar go ahead.

"The answer to bad speech is more speech. If someone says something I don't like, rather than calling in the police and saying this guy should be fined or sent to jail, we should explain to people why we think those ideas are bad and why we shouldn't listen to him," he said.

"Why is it that a government bureaucrat gets to decide what ideas you and I hear at forums we freely choose to attend? That's a very concerning idea."

Deakin University social media academic Deb Waterhouse-Watson was surprised Blanc's visa was cancelled, but supported Scott Morrison's intervention.

"I was surprised it went that far, but yes, I think it was the right thing to do," she said. "You shouldn't have freedom of speech if you're advocating crime."

Blanc's arrival came just days after Victoria Police chief commissioner Ken Lay described "vulgar and violent attitudes towards women" as a key cause of gender-based violence. Twenty-nine women were killed by the partners in Victoria in 2013.

Lay described Blanc's work as "deeply disturbing and offensive".

Feminist and writer Clementine Ford said she was most concerned that there was an audience eager to listen to Blanc's advice.

"It won't help them communicate with women. It doesn't encourage any kind of genuine connection between men and women. It only encourages objectification," she says.

The global protest against Blanc has now moved to Japan, where he is next due to appear.

Blanc has not commented, but one of his colleagues at dating company Real Social Dynamics has downplayed the incident, saying the controversy stems from one video being taken out of context.

"I think Julien's video was absolutely stupid," co-founder Owen Cook, who uses the name Tyler online, wrote on the company's web forums.

"It was totally out of context and he posted it to get shock, not realising the full outcome. I'm sorry about the video."

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Julien Blanc is not the first controversial figure to be denied a visa or had it stripped after arriving in the country.

VISA CANCELLED -

LORENZO ERVIN

The US Black Panther's visitor's visa was cancelled by then-Immigration Minister Philip Ruddock in July 1997, just as Ervin left the country. The government change of heart occurred over Ervin's US convictions of air piracy and kidnapping.

VISA DENIED -

BILAL PHILIPS

The Canadian-based Muslim cleric banned from entering Australia to attend a Melbourne conference in April 2007 following reports linking him to the 1993 bombing of the World Trade Centre.

CORDOZAR CALVIN BROADUS AKA SNOOP DOGG

Kevin Andrews tried to block the popular rapper's visa in April 2007 over a previous no contest plea over gun and drug charges in the US. He was later allowed in to perform at several music festivals.

GEORGE SPEIGHT

The Fijian coup leader was banned by Howard government in 2000 because of his role in overthrowing of the Fijian government that same year. He was also banned by other countries, including the US and New Zealand.

GERRY ADAMS

The Sinn Fein leader was banned in 1997 by John Howard because of his links to the Irish Republican Army but the ban was lifted in 1999.

DAVID IRVING

The Keating government banned the discredited right-wing historian and convicted Holocaust denier from entering Australia in 1993. He has unsuccessfully tried to gain entry four times, most recently in 2003.

EGON KISCH

The Czech writer and Communist sympathiser banned in 1934 by Robert Menzies after he failed an European language test when it was given in Gaelic. He was eventually allowed to stay after legal action and popular support.

- with Steve Lillebuen