Nicki Minaj’s concert at Co-op Live Arena in Manchester is canceled following her arrest on drug charges in Amsterdam Saturday morning.
Dutch police arrested the 41-year-old rap star after marijuana was found in her luggage at an airport.
Nicki was released by police hours after she was detained.
A statement from Amsterdam’s Royal Military Constabulary read: “We have just released a 41-year-old American woman who we arrested this afternoon at Schiphol on suspicion of exporting soft drugs. After consultation with the Public Prosecution Service, the suspect was fined and can continue her journey.”
A private jet believed to be chartered by Nicki was seen departing the airport in Amsterdam Saturday night.
However, a spokesperson for Co-Op Live Arena said Nicki show will not go on as scheduled Saturday night.
“Tickets will remain valid for the rescheduled performance which will be announced ASAP,” read a tweet on Co-Op Live Arena’s X/Twitter page. “Despite Nicki’s best efforts to explore every possible avenue to make tonight’s show happen, the events of today have made it impossible.”
Hundreds of fans lined up outside the Co-Op Live arena early Saturday, chanting “Free Nicki! Free Nicki!” Some diehard fans told reporters they stood in live since 8 a.m. to get front row tickets.
Earlier in the day, Nicki recorded the Dutch police asking her to get in a police van as she demanded to speak to a lawyer.
“Oh, I’m under arrest? Under arrest for what?” she asked.
Officers told Nicki to “Please stop filming now” and “could you step in the car please?”
“No, I need a lawyer because I don’t know where I’m going,” she responded. An officer assured the rapper that she will get a lawyer.
More footage of Nicki Minaj being detained in Amsterdam by police for alleged weed possession
Weed is legal in Amsterdam. https://t.co/WDKbkA3lO8 pic.twitter.com/txubImBAeQ
— Mílagro (@MobzWorld) May 25, 2024
Nicki’s arrest happened during the European leg of her Pink Friday 2 Tour.
The rapper accused airport staff of deliberately trying to “sabotage” her tour.
In tweets, Nicki explained that her “security” was carrying “weed” which is “legal” in Amsterdam.
“Now they said they found weed & that another group of ppl have to come here to weigh the pre-rolls,” Minaj wrote on X around 10:30 a.m. ET.
“Keep in mind they took my bags without consent. My security has already advised them those pre-rolls belong to him. Oh yea & the pilot wants me to take my ig post down,” she added.
