Furious Nicki Minaj fans 'raging and betrayed' after Co-op Live gig cancelled

Furious Nicki Minaj fans have hit out after being told the pop star's gig wouldn't be going ahead - over two HOURS after they were let into the venue.

Thousands of people were left disappointed on Saturday night after the concert in the Co-op Live arena was cancelled just after 9.30pm.

It came after the 41-year-old star was arrested in Amsterdam as she made her way to Manchester, just hours ahead of when the gig was meant to start. Dutch police said the singer was arrested after allegedly trying to take soft drugs from Schiphol Airport to another country. She was released and fined, they said in a further statement issued just before 8.45pm.

READ MORE: Moment Nicki Minaj fans were told Co-op Live gig was cancelled after two hours of waiting

Fans were left waiting inside the Co-op Live, however, with no confirmation of whether the gig would go ahead or not until 9.35pm. After being told they had to leave, many hit out at the cancellation.

“We were sat in there for hours and now we’ve been asked to leave,” one fan said. “Everyone is raging,” another added.

Two others, Lucy and Hannah, said they’re “really frustrated” by everything that has happened.

“They must have known hours ago, it’s really disappointing,” they said.

Olivia Gibson travelled from Newcastle for the gig. She said she has been a fan since she was young and she thinks the reason behind tonight’s cancellation is ‘disgusting’. “I feel betrayed,” she said.

"I've handed my Barb notice in."

Frankie Harper, 20, from Andover, Hampshire, said: “(I’m) distraught to say the least. It definitely hurts more that it was on my birthday. Not sure what happens with the £100s that you spend on a train and hotel.”

Nord Herida, 23, who lives in Barnsley and travelled an hour to attend the concert, said he had felt before the postponement that his time was “being wasted” inside the arena.

He added that his friend had travelled four hours from Ipswich to get to the gig and that they had been waiting since 1pm at the arena.

“(I’m) pissed not (going to) lie, they have taken this long to tell us,” Mr Herida said.

“Like I work, I can’t just take a day off.”

Two other fans added: “It is what it is - it’s frustrating but it can’t be helped...We’re going to go out and make the most of it.”

After being told the gig was no longer going ahead, a notice was handed out to fans at the venue which read: "We regret to inform you that due to unforseen circumstances, today's event cannot continue.

"Please check our social channels over the next few days for further information, including on any rescheduled dates and refunds."

A statement from Live Nation, the tour promoter for the show, said: “Nicki Minaj’s scheduled performance at Manchester’s Co-op Live on Saturday 25th May has been postponed. Tickets will remain valid for the rescheduled performance which will be announced ASAP.

“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. More information will be available at your point of purchase.”

The drama started after Minaj put a series of social media posts on X from around 3pm on Saturday saying 'they're trying to keep me from MANCHESTER'. She said that her luggage has been taken at the airport while travelling from Amsterdam to attend the gig.

In another post on X, the star claimed "now they said they found weed & that another group of pp have to come here to weigh the pre-rolls" while adding that her bags had supposedly been taken without her consent.

During a video she then posted onto her Instagram and X profiles, the American rapper and singer could be seen talking to a police officer who accused her of "carrying drugs". He could then be seen urging her to go into what appears to be a police van while telling her she will be going to a "police station".

She then posted at 4pm that she had to attend a police station to give a 'statement'. She has not posted since, and was originally due on stage in Manchester at 8pm.

Minaj has not yet commented on the cancellation. She is due to perform at Co-op Live on May 30.