Rapper Nicki Minaj has apologized to fans in Manchester, England, for postponing a show scheduled for Saturday night in the city after footage was posted to her social media accounts that appeared to show her being arrested by Dutch authorities on drug charges.
A widely shared Instagram Live video captured by CNN is no longer available on Minaj's account and appears to show Minaj being escorted by police into a van after performing in Amsterdam on Thursday.
“We're arresting you,” one officer tells Minaj in the video as he takes her to the police station. When Minaj asks why, the officer replies, “For possession of drugs.”
The video then shows Minaj denying the allegations and repeatedly requesting an attorney before eventually getting into the van. Another video posted to her Instagram account shows a man telling Minaj that his luggage needs to be searched.
Neither Dutch police nor the Royal Dutch Police, a branch of the Dutch military, responded to questions about potential charges against Minaj reached by phone late Sunday night.
Minaj has since been released and is continuing her “Pink Friday 2” world tour, according to posts and videos shared by her tour accounts.
On Saturday, Manchester's Co-op Live arena announced in a statement that Minaj's show scheduled for that evening had been postponed. “Despite Nicki's best efforts to explore all options to make tonight's show possible, today's events have made this impossible,” the venue said. “We are deeply disappointed at the inconvenience this has caused.”
“Please accept my sincere apologies. They knew exactly how to hurt me today, but this too shall pass,” Minaj said, noting that she plans to make up performance dates in June or July.
Another video posted to X on Sunday showed Minaj meeting with screaming fans outside a Manchester hotel, where two men can be seen repeatedly trying to silence the crowd, threatening to let Minaj inside if she doesn't quiet down.
“Honestly, I love you,” she said.
Nina Segal Reporting from Amsterdam