Photo Credit: Mike Levin
Rapper Nicki Minaj issued a heartfelt apology to her fans in Manchester early Sunday morning after being forced to postpone her UK show due to a run-in with Dutch authorities over drug allegations. The incident, which saw Minaj briefly detained at Amsterdam's Schiphol Airport, left fans disappointed but still hopeful as they gathered outside her Manchester hotel.
"I love you and I’m so sorry this happened tonight", Minaj expressed in a video posted on social media. Her apology came after a tumultuous day that saw her initially detained by Dutch authorities who alleged she was carrying drugs.
Earlier in the day, Minaj had excitedly revealed the name of her Manchester hotel on X (formerly Twitter), inviting fans to see her. "I’m going on the balcony so if you’re outside I’ll be able to see you & I may come downstairs. I’ll be out there for about an hour. Rlly
(really) wanted to at least get to see you", she wrote, showcasing her eagerness to connect with her supporters.
However, despite being released from police custody on Saturday evening, the concert scheduled for that night in Manchester could not proceed. Live Nation and the concertvenue, Co-op Live, expressed their disappointment in a statement, acknowledging the frustration felt by fans. "Despite Nicki’s best efforts to explore every possible avenue to make tonight’s show happen, the events of today have made it impossible", the statement read.
The incident began at Amsterdam’s Schiphol Airport, where Minaj was detained by the Royal Netherlands Mare Chaussee, the country’s military police. In a video captured on her Instagram Live and widely shared on social media, Minaj is seen speaking with police while holding her camera phone. She mentions "pre-rolls they found" and is then escorted from her vehicle into a police van. When she inquired about the reason for her arrest, an official stated it was for "carrying drugs", to which Minaj responded, "I’m not carrying drugs'.
Throughout the clip, Minaj repeatedly asked for the address of the police station and demanded a lawyer, while the police insisted, she stop filming. The Royal Netherlands Mare Chaussee later confirmed they had arrested a 41-year-old American woman with "soft drugs" at the airport. However, after consultation with the Public Prosecutor’s Office, Minaj was released with a monetary fine and allowed to continue her journey.
Minaj, currently on her Pink Friday 2 World Tour promoting her latest album released late last year, had performed in Amsterdam on Thursday night and was scheduled to perform in Birmingham, UK, on Sunday night. Another concert at Manchester's Co-op Live is slated for Thursday, May 30, giving fans another chance to see the star live.
