Nicki Minaj's concert at the Co-op Live Arena in Manchester was postponed following her arrest in the Netherlands on Saturday, as confirmed by the promoter Live Nation. The 41-year-old US singer and rapper was detained at Amsterdam’s Schiphol Airport after allegedly attempting to transport soft drugs. Dutch police stated that Minaj was fined and subsequently released from custody.
Fans had already gathered at the Manchester venue despite the delay, and the announcement came as a significant disappointment. Live Nation remarked, “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.”
Minaj had been taken into custody earlier in the day, with Dutch police confirming her release around 9 pm. The rapper later resumed her journey. Fans expressed their frustration over the situation, with some having traveled long distances and incurred significant expenses.
This incident adds to a series of challenges faced by Manchester’s Co-op Live Arena, which has experienced multiple event postponements since its opening.