Rapper Nicki Minaj apologized to fans in Manchester, England, for postponing a show scheduled for Saturday night in the city after images on one of her social media accounts appeared to show her being arrested by Dutch authorities for drug possession.
The live Instagram videocaptured by CNN and shared more widely, is no longer available on Minaj's account. It appears that Minaj, who had performed in Amsterdam on Thursday, was directed to a van by law enforcement officers.
“You are under arrest,” one of the officers says in the video, informing Minaj that she will be taken to the police station. When Minaj asks why, he replies, “because you have drugs on you.”
The video then shows Minaj denying the accusation and repeatedly asking for a lawyer before finally getting into the van. Another video posted to her Instagram account appears to show a man telling Minaj that her luggage needs to be searched.
Neither Dutch police nor the Royal Military Police, a branch of the Dutch military, would respond to questions about possible charges against Minaj when reached by phone late Sunday evening.
Minaj has since been released and is continuing the Pink Friday 2 World Tour, according to posts and videos shared by the travel bill.
The Co-op Live arena in Manchester joined in on Saturday a statement that Minaj's show scheduled for that evening had been postponed. “Despite Nicki's best efforts to explore every avenue possible to make tonight's show happen, today's events have made it impossible,” the venue said. “We are deeply disappointed by the inconvenience this has caused.”
“Please, please accept my deepest and most sincere apologies. They sure knew exactly how to hurt me today, but this too shall pass,” Minaj said, noting that she would make up the date for the performance in June or July.
Another one on Sunday video posted on X showed Minaj meeting with screaming fans outside her Manchester hotel. The footage shows two men repeatedly trying to calm the crowd, warning that they would go inside if they did not calm down.
“I can honestly tell you that I love you,” she said.
Nina Siegal contributed reporting from Amsterdam.