Nicki Minaj fans were left disappointed and angry after the American rapper’s gig at Manchester’s Co-op Live arena was called off at the last minute due to her arrest in Amsterdam. The arrest, which was on suspicion of exporting soft drugs, led to Minaj being fined and allowed to continue her journey, but she did not make it to Manchester in time for her concert.
Around 20,000 fans were left waiting in the arena, with some expressing their frustration at the situation. Imogen Pope, who had spent £150 on a ticket and booked a day off work, said she was “gutted” after waiting for three hours only to be told the concert was postponed. Other fans, like Ellis Day, shared similar sentiments of disappointment.
Despite the disappointment, some fans refused to blame Minaj for the last-minute cancellation. Shaz Shah, for example, believed that the issue was beyond the artist’s control and that the arena should have been more transparent about the situation.
Minaj later took to social media to share her side of the story, revealing that she had spent between five and six hours in jail before finally arriving at her hotel in Manchester. She expressed her apologies to fans and promised to announce a rescheduled date with an “added bonus” for ticket holders.
The incident adds to the challenges faced by the new £450m Co-op Live arena, which has experienced delays and technical problems with other scheduled gigs. Despite the setback, fans remain hopeful for a successful rescheduled concert in the future.
