Entertainment
Nicki Minaj will then perform in London on Thursday following her controversial arrest and release
Nicki Minaj fans were left angry after the American rapper’s gig at Manchester’s Co-op Live arena was called off at the last minute, following her arrest at Amsterdam’s Schiphol Airport.
Minaj was arrested on suspicion of exporting soft drugs before being fined 350 euros (£300; $380) and allowed to continue her journey, Dutch authorities said.
The artist didn’t make it to Manchester in time for her concert on Saturday, which was postponed as about 20,000 fans were in the arena waiting for her to take the stage.
They included Imogen Pope, 18, from Newton-le-Wilows in Merseyside, who said she was “pretty livid”.
“I spent £150 for my ticket and booked a day off work for it, and we sat there for about three hours waiting and we got told it’s not happening,” she said. “I’m gutted.”
Ellis Day, 17, from Cheshire, said he was “absolutely devastated”.
“We’ve come here, we spent all day getting ready, to see this happen.
Kian Young (left) said the concert should have been called off earlier
“It’s just really disappointing when we’ve got our hopes up and spent the money, and we get told at the very last minute that she’s not going to show up.”
Fans were let into the arena at 19:00 BST, and were hopeful that the gig would go ahead right up until the announcement about the postponement, which came just after 21:30 BST – around the time she had been expected to come on stage.
There were some boos in the Manchester arena, before everyone filed out.
According to videos on social media and flight data, the plane thought to be transporting Minaj was still in Amsterdam when the Manchester show was postponed.
“I’m disappointed because I saw this afternoon that Nicki Minaj got arrested in Amsterdam,” said Kian Young, 23, who had travelled from Scunthorpe in Lincolnshire.
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 cancelled 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.
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. She’s just let all her fans down.”
Another ticket-holder, Anna, travelled 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 definitely 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 cancelled. 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 an “added 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.” She was seen telling him she was not carrying drugs.
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.”
Dutch prosecutors have told local media she was carrying 30 to 100 grams of cannabis – but Minaj claims “the pre-rolls” belonged her security guard.
It is technically against the law to possess, sell or produce drugs in the Netherlands. But 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.
Afrobeat singer, David Adeleke, popularly known as Davido, has gifted his wife, Chioma, a diamond-encrusted Richard Mille wristwatch valued at $300,000 during their white wedding in Miami, United States, on Sunday.
The luxury timepiece is the second Richard Mille watch Davido has given her, following a similar gift alongside Birkin bags for her birthday in 2023.
The Miami ceremony followed the couple’s traditional wedding in Lagos in June 2024 and their court wedding in March 2023.
Pictures and videos from the event have been widely shared on social media, sparking excitement among fans.
Entertainment
This pain really paining, Cubana Chief Priest explains absence from Davido’s white wedding
Celebrity barman, Pascal Okechukwu, popularly known as Cubana Chief Priest, has opened up about his absence from Davido’s wedding in Miami, Florida, citing long-standing US visa challenges.
In an Instagram post on Saturday, Cubana Chief Priest stated that he woke up with “mixed feelings,” expressing both happiness for the couple and sadness over missing the event.
He noted that sometimes, life’s challenges serve as a reminder of human limitations, despite personal success.
Sharing a video from Davio’s traditional wedding held in Lagos in 2024, the entrepreneur wrote, “Woke up this morning with mixed feelings. I’m happy, and I’m still sad at the same time.
“Sometimes, God has a way of making you understand that you are powerless regardless of all you may think you have.”
Responding to criticism over his absence from the white wedding, Cubana Chief Priest said, “I appreciate the bashing because that has given me multiple reasons and proofs to apply again.”
Addressing the U.S. Embassy in Nigeria, the entrepreneur wrote, “#usinnigeria do it for me this time. You can clearly see how disappointed and hurt the world is to see me absent at my best friend’s wedding. You need to give me access to get my fat ass into America. Well, delay is never denial — CP is still hopeful.”
Despite his absence, Cubana Chief Priest said his wife and family were present at the wedding to represent him.
He wrote, “The largest part of me, which is my family, my beautiful, elegant, expensive, eloquent and sophisticated wife #_deangels, is there to share in this luxury blissful experience. So I’m there in body and spirit.
“I’m wishing my best friend #davido and his beautiful wife #thechefchi an amazing wedlock.”
He further stated that he will reapply for a visa next week, saying, “#usinnigeria I’m in again next week. Please give me access to the greatest country in the world. This pain is really paining.”
Earlier in January, Cubana Chief Priest revealed on Channels TV’s Rubbin’ Minds that errors made on his first visa application, which was filled out by someone else when he was younger, have persisted in the US immigration system and continue to cause denials.
“I have been denied access to America. If I had a visa to enter Yankee today, it would be a dream come true,” Cubana Chief Priest said.
“Somebody filled out my form when I was much younger and was trying to get into America. Some mistakes were coming up during interviews. And I think they have it on their system. Anytime I came, it kept popping up.
“David tells me about America and the lifestyle. It is something I want to experience. I hope very soon I am going to get access to get into Yankee”, he said.
Ekwutosblog reports that celebrities and friends joined Davido and Chioma for their pre-wedding party in Miami, United States, on Saturday.
Social media personality, Okunyele Idris Olarenwaju, popularly known as Bobrisky, has shared his views on men in the United Kingdom, UK.
In a recent Instagram post, he stated that the men in Uk are too broke for his taste.
According to Bobrisky, these men often share apartments and split bills, which he finds unimpressive.
The social media personality expressed his expectations for any potential suitors, insisting that they should be seen on designer wears to impress him.
He justified his expectations by referencing his own ability to rock luxury brands.
“By the way Uk men are too broke, avoid them.
“They share apartments they share bills among themselves, ewwww.
“Before any Uk guy can approach me please come correct. The least wristwatch I want to see you wear is Presidential Rolex and a designers slippers If me as a girl can rock Presidential Rolex why can’t you?” He wrote
See post.
https://x.com/yabaleftonline/status/1953006954336374816?s=46
COMMANDER OF IMO ANTI KIDNAPPING SQUAD (TIGER BASE) HONOURED WITH PROMOTION TO ASSISTANT COMMISSIONER OF POLICE. … DECORATED BY IMO COMMISSIONER OF POLICE…
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