Nicki Minaj fans fume as gig is axed after arrest
Nicki Minaj fans were left furious after the American rapper’s concert at Manchester’s Co-op Live arena was abruptly canceled following her arrest at Amsterdam’s Schiphol Airport.
Minaj was detained on suspicion of exporting soft drugs, fined, and then allowed to continue her journey, according to Dutch police.
However, she didn’t make it to Manchester in time for her Saturday concert, which was postponed as about 20,000 fans were left waiting in the arena.
Among the disappointed fans was Imogen Pope, 18, from Newton-le-Willows in Merseyside, who expressed her frustration.
“I spent £150 on my ticket and took a day off work, only to sit there for three hours before being told it’s not happening,” she said. “I’m gutted.”
Ellis Day, 17, from Cheshire, was also upset.
“We spent all day getting ready and then this happens. It’s disappointing to have our hopes up, spend money, and be told at the last minute she’s not showing up,” he said.
Fans were let into the arena at 19:00 BST and remained hopeful until the postponement announcement came just after 21:30 BST, around the time Minaj was supposed to perform.
There were some boos in the Manchester arena before everyone left.
Social media videos and flight data indicated that the plane carrying Minaj was still in Amsterdam when the Manchester show was canceled.
The arrest was beyond the arena’s control, but Mr Young was one of many to question why no official statement was made earlier.
“I’m confused as to why the Co-op arena hasn’t spoken to its fans. Why didn’t they cancel it at 17:00?
“Everyone’s come – my missus is crying. Why not tell us it’s canceled before bringing us in?”
It is the latest problem to hit the new £450m arena, which has also been forced to postpone or move gigs by the likes of Olivia Rodrigo, Take That, and Peter Kay in recent weeks after suffering a string of delays and technical problems.
Some fans laid the blame squarely on the superstar rapper.
Olivia Gibson, 21, from Newcastle, said she was now an “ex-fan”, and Minaj has a track record of running late and should have allowed more time to travel.
“I feel appalled. But also, in a way, I’m not shocked,” she said.
“And it’s not the Co-op Live’s fault. It’s Nicki Minaj’s fault. She’s just let all her fans down.”
Another ticket-holder, Anna, traveled from Poland with her boyfriend and said they had spent about £1,000 on the trip in total.
“I’m very angry because my boyfriend gave me a ticket for the concert for Valentine’s Day,” she said. “We flew from Poland for this concert.
“She knows it is sold out here. It’s a lot of money.”
Other die-hard fans refused to blame Minaj.
Shaz Shah, 23, from Manchester, said: “What’s happened tonight is not the artist’s fault – it’s an issue that’s happened in another country and it shouldn’t be taken out on her.
“Co-op Live should have been a bit more transparent and told us a bit sooner. People have booked days off work, they’ve bought tickets, just for it to be canceled. The matter should have been escalated sooner.”
On social media, Minaj said she was in a jail cell for between five and six hours and finally arrived at her hotel in Manchester around midnight.
“They succeeded at their plan to not let me get on that stage tonight,” she wrote on X, without saying who she was referring to.
“Please please please accept my deepest & most sincere apologies.
“They sure did know exactly how to hurt me today but this too, shall pass.
“They’ve been doing this over & over & over & over & over again & I’ve tried so hard to not discuss it b/c [because] you guys deserve to just get the good stuff. I hate involving you in anything that isn’t for entertainment purposes only.”
She said she hoped to announce a rescheduled date on Sunday, promising a “bonus” for those with a ticket.
Earlier, Minaj filmed part of her arrest, posting it to social media on Saturday afternoon.
In the video, a police officer could seemingly be heard telling her: “You are under arrest.”
The music star posted a series of messages on X. “They took my luggage without consent,” she wrote in one. In another, she added: “This is Amsterdam btw [by the way], where weed is legal.”
It is technically against the law to possess, sell, or produce drugs in the Netherlands. However, the country operates a policy of toleration towards the sale or possession of small amounts of some drugs.
In a statement, promoters Live Nation said: “Nicki Minaj’s scheduled performance at Manchester’s Co-op Live on Saturday 25 May has been postponed.”
“Tickets will remain valid for the rescheduled performance which will be announced as soon as possible.
“Despite Nicki’s best efforts to explore every possible avenue to make tonight’s show happen, the events of today have made it impossible. We are deeply disappointed by the inconvenience this has caused.”
Co-op Live posted the same statement.
Minaj is due to continue her tour in Birmingham on Sunday, then visit London and Glasgow, before a second scheduled date in Manchester on Thursday.
