What Happened at Schiphol Airport? Nicki Minaj’s Drug Allegations?
Nicki Minaj’s eagerly awaited concert in Manchester faced an unexpected postponement following her brief arrest in the Netherlands due to allegations of carrying soft drugs. This incident, which unfolded as Minaj was traveling for her “Pink Friday 2 World Tour,” left her fans disheartened and sparked widespread discussion online.
She was detained at Amsterdam’s Schiphol Airport on Saturday on suspicion of exporting soft drugs, specifically marijuana.
The Royal Netherlands Marechaussee, the Dutch national police, confirmed her detention, stating that the rapper was fined and released after spending five to six hours in custody. Although the exact fine amount remains undisclosed, Minaj’s ordeal significantly disrupted her travel plans.
The delay prevented Minaj from making it to Manchester for her scheduled performance at the Co-op Live arena, where about 20,000 fans had gathered.
Despite being let into the venue around 7 PM, attendees were informed of the concert’s postponement only around 9:30 PM, the time she was expected to perform. This late announcement resulted in considerable frustration, with many fans expressing their disappointment after traveling long distances and incurring significant expenses.
In multiple social media posts, Minaj apologized to her fans and detailed her experience, suggesting that the incident was an attempt to sabotage her tour.
She shared videos of the encounter with Dutch police, asserting that her arrest was unjust and expressing her belief that there were ulterior motives behind the disruption.
“They succeeded at their plan to not let me get on that stage tonight,” she wrote on X.
Fan reactions were mixed. Some defended her, saying it wasn’t her fault and the problem happened in another country.
Some said, “What happened tonight is definitely not the artist’s fault – it’s an issue that occurred in another country and shouldn’t be taken out on her.”
On the other hand, some criticized her for not planning better, “I feel appalled. But also, in a way, I’m not shocked.”
The Co-op Live arena, already dealing with other problems, was criticized for how it handled the situation. Fans wondered why the event wasn’t canceled earlier, which would have saved them the frustration of waiting at the venue.
Amid the unfolding events, BBC News reported, “Minaj’s arrest and subsequent delay have added to the mounting challenges faced by the Co-op Live arena, which has already been under scrutiny for previous technical issues.“
Despite the setback, she assured her fans that the concert would be rescheduled, with tickets remaining valid for the new date. She promised an additional bonus for those who had tickets for the postponed show. She is set to continue her tour with performances in Birmingham, London, and Glasgow, along with a rescheduled date in Manchester.