Nicki Minaj apologizes for postponed concert after incident in Amsterdam

Nicki Minaj apologizes to her fans for postponing her concert on Saturday after she was reportedly arrested in Amsterdam.

A video shared on social media shows the 41-year-old “Anaconda” rapper apologizing to fans at a hotel on Saturday after her performance scheduled for that evening in Manchester, England, was postponed. Earlier that same day, Minaj was reportedly arrested in Amsterdam for alleged drug possession.

“I wanted to honestly tell you that I love you and I’m so sorry this happened,” Minaj said in the clip over the noise of screaming fans.

Minaj also addressed the day’s events at X, writing: “Please, please, please accept my deepest and most sincere apologies.” She said she had been sitting in a jail cell for “5-6 hours,” adding that at the time of publication she had just arrived in Manchester just over an hour earlier.

The “Barbie World” singer was scheduled to perform at the Co-op Live in Manchester as part of her Pink Friday 2 World Tour. But before the show on Saturday, Minaj posted a video on Instagram in which police in Amsterdam could be seen telling her that she had been arrested “for carrying drugs,” which she denied.

Nicki Minaj: Singer released after alleged arrest in Amsterdam

Police later appeared to confirm the arrest in a post on X, but without mentioning her name.

“We have just released a 41-year-old American woman we arrested this afternoon at Schiphol on suspicion of exporting soft drugs,” said the post, written in Dutch. “After consultation with the public prosecutor, the suspect has been fined and can continue her journey.”

Amsterdam police had previously told USA TODAY that they “cannot provide information on anyone over the age of 18. The reason for this is due to data protection laws. Therefore, we cannot confirm anything.”

In a statement shared on social media, Co-op Live told fans: “Despite Nicki’s best efforts to explore every possible option to make tonight’s show possible, today’s events have made this impossible. We are deeply disappointed by the inconvenience this has caused.” Tickets remain valid for the rescheduled performance, the venue said.

But Minaj told her fans that she might come down to chat with them at their hotel, writing on X: “I really wanted to at least see y’all. But if y’all in bed PLEASE STAY THERE.” She had previously posted: “I have sooooooooo much video evidence. You wouldn’t believe it if I told you. But I’ll let the lawyers and GOD take it from here.”

Minaj also promised she would “find a way” to make it up to fans who had tickets to Saturday’s show with a new date and an “added bonus for everyone,” writing, “We will have another date for tonight’s show shortly and I will likely be able to announce it tomorrow. A July and June option are currently being discussed.”

According to her tour website, Minaj is next scheduled to perform in Birmingham on Sunday and return to Manchester on Thursday.

Contributors: Jay Stahl, USA TODAY

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Nicki Minaj arrested: Singer apologizes for postponed concert