Nicki Minaj apologizes for postponed show after video apparently shows arrest

Rapper Nicki Minaj apologized to fans in Manchester, England, for postponing a performance scheduled for Saturday night in the city after footage posted on one of her social media accounts appeared to show her being arrested by Dutch authorities for drug possession.

The live Instagram video, captured and shared by CNN, is no longer available on Minaj’s account and appears to show Minaj, who performed in Amsterdam on Thursday, being directed by police officers to a van.

“You are under arrest,” one of the officers says in the video, telling Minaj that she is being taken to the police station. When Minaj asks why, he replies, “Because you have drugs on you.”

The video then shows Minaj denying the accusation and repeatedly asking for a lawyer before finally getting into the van. Another video posted to her Instagram account appears to show a man telling Minaj that her luggage needs to be searched.

Neither the Dutch police nor the Royal Marechaussee, a branch of the Dutch military, responded by phone late Sunday evening to questions about possible charges against Minaj.

Minaj has since been released and is continuing the Pink Friday 2 World Tour, according to posts and videos shared by the tour account.

On Saturday, the Co-op Live Arena in Manchester said in a statement that Minaj’s show scheduled for that evening had been postponed. “Despite Nicki’s best efforts to explore all possible options to make tonight’s show possible, the events of today have made this impossible,” the venue’s statement said. “We are deeply disappointed by the inconvenience this has caused.”

“Please, please, please accept my deepest and most sincere apologies. They knew exactly how to hurt me today, but this too shall pass,” Minaj said, noting that she will reschedule the performance in June or July.

On Sunday, another video posted to X showed Minaj encountering screaming fans outside her Manchester hotel. The footage shows two men repeatedly trying to calm the crowd, warning them that if they didn’t calm down, she would go inside.

“I can honestly tell you that I love you,” she said.

Nina Siegal reported from Amsterdam.