Nicki Minaj caused anger in the streets of London on Thursday after getting up more than five hours late for a meet and greet and then driving her car away after seeing the chaotic turnout.
The superstar is in the UK after performing a delayed set plagued by technical glitches and noise issues last night at Wireless Festival in London’s Finsbury Park.
The star, who had arranged to meet with fans in the afternoon, showed up just after 5 p.m. to the relief and delight of thousands of those who saw her SUV and ran beside it in a frenzy.
Nicki, who was wearing a long orange wig and baseball cap, managed to get out of the jeep briefly but was overwhelmed and harassed by the crowd and was soon taken back into the vehicle by her security. They then drove off.
Chun-Li’s hitmaker, however, gave hope that she simply went to a safer place because the crowd was too deep.
She took to Twitter and warned in writing, “Guys, if you guys don’t get into a locked area, they won’t let me get out of the cars. Pls don’t run in the streets. Please come to 1 place. 1 line.’
Moments later, however, a police officer stood among the crowd of fans and told them to stop gathering because she had in fact left the area and would not return.
He yelled, “Whatever Miss Minaj tweets, she’s not here, she drove by, she’s gone. Whatever she says is a fact.’
He was greeted with a chorus of booing.
A statement from Camden Police said a local police plan was in place and police had been contacted in advance by site staff, concerned about significant crowds outside.
The statement continued: “More police resources needed to be deployed to maintain law and order and to close roads.
‘In the interest of safety, the event managers have decided not to let it go ahead. The public is advised not to travel to the area.
“A section 35 dispersal order is in effect. The public moves away and the police remain on the scene. No arrests.’
On Sunday, seemingly to make up for the disappointing Wireless show — which had to be cut short because the star got on stage 40 minutes late and was not allowed to perform after the festival’s 9:30 p.m. curfew — Nicki took to Instagram Live and announced the meet and greet.
She revealed that she would be meeting fans at Cafe KOKO in Camden at noon on Monday.
“I hope you haven’t booked the first flight that leaves tomorrow morning,” she said, teasing the meeting.
Hundreds of fans were already queuing in front of the hall from the early morning.
This turned into thousands by midday, when the star was expected to rise.
But as the clock kept ticking with no sign of the rapper, her fans’ patience turned to anger.
By 4 p.m., some took to Twitter to beat the star, complaining that they were hungry, feeling cheated and struggling with the rising temperatures in the capital.
Metro.co.uk has reached out to representatives of Nicki Minaj for comment.
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