Nicki Minaj fans denounce last-minute concert cancellation after Amsterdam arrest

Nicki Minaj fans were furious after the American rapper’s concert in Manchester was postponed at the last minute, following her arrest at Amsterdam’s Schiphol Airport.

Minaj, 41, was arrested on suspicion of exporting soft drugs before being fined and allowed to continue her journey, Dutch police said.

In a video livestreamed to her followers, Minaj revealed that she had some pre-rolled joints in her bag that she believed belonged to someone else.

“Keep in mind that they took my luggage without my consent. My security has already informed them that these pre-rolls belong to him,” she wrote on X. “Oh yes and the pilot wants me to delete my (Instagram) post. »

The Anaconda star was unable to arrive in Manchester in time for his gig at the busy Co-op Live arena, where 20,000 fans awaited him on stage.

Fans were allowed into the arena at 7pm BST and held out hope that the concert would go ahead until 9:30pm, when boos erupted around the venue as fans were informed it had been postponed and asked to leave The area.

“I spent £150 on my ticket and booked a day off for it, and we stood there for about three hours waiting and were told it wasn’t going to happen,” Imogen Pope said , 18, at the BBC.

Ellis Day, 17, from Cheshire, said he was “devastated” by the postponement.

“We came here, we spent all day preparing, to see this happen,” he said. “It’s really very disappointing when we have our hopes up and spent money, and we’re told at the very last minute that she’s not going to show up.”

Some fans criticized Co-op Live organizers, with one fan writing on X/Twitter: “Co-op Live you are a fucking joke. You knew hours ago that the show wouldn’t happen, but you still allowed everyone to come and spend money at your venue only to cancel at the last minute. An absolute joke.

In a video, another fan, Aaron Drohan, criticized the venue for “making us stand” after purchasing food, drinks and merchandise, only to later postpone the event.

“F*** you, Co-op Live,” he said, revealing he had come from Ireland to see the show.

Minaj invited her fans, known as Barbz, to her downtown hotel after arriving after missing the concert, and according to videos on social media, she later addressed the crowd at the ‘outside.

She told them: “I honestly wanted to tell you that I love you. »

On This evening “.

She said a new date for the show would be announced on Sunday.

She wrote: “A July option and a June option are currently under discussion. I will find a way to not only make up the date with the show, but I will create an added bonus for everyone who had a (ticket) for this show. Promise.”

Minaj said she would continue with her other scheduled shows, including in Birmingham on Sunday and a second night at the Co-op Live Arena on Thursday.

A statement from Live Nation said Saturday: “Despite Nicki’s best efforts to explore all possible avenues for tonight’s show to take place, today’s events have made that impossible.

“We are deeply disappointed by the inconvenience this has caused. »

Minaj’s arrest and show postponement is the latest issue to hit the Co-op Live arena, which was finally able to open last week after more than a month of delays.

Additional reporting from the Associated Press