Co-op Live: I’ve waited to see Nicki Minaj for 13 years and last-minute cancellation means I may never get to
“People were literally crying and all sorts of things. It was awful.”
Thousands of Nicki Minaj fans were left angry and upset as the rapper's Co-op Live gig was cancelled with many of them inside the arena. The gig was postponed due to Minaj being arrested at Amsterdam’s Schiphol Airport and although she was released, the star was unable to get to the venue in time.
Fans travelled from across the country to the gig that was due to take place on Saturday 25. One of these was Leonnie Lartey, a 23-year-old single mum from Newcastle.
Travelling down on the train by herself, Leonnie was in the venue when the gig was cancelled. With the change of date which is now June 3, she can no longer see Minaj - a performer she has wanted to see for 13 years.
Leonnie told ManchesterWorld about the experience of being in the arena when the gig was cancelled. She feels this may have been her only opportunity to see Minaj.
“I’ve lost out on so much money and can’t make the postponed date,” she said. “I am devastated. I’ve been waiting to see Nicki since I was like 10 I’m 23 now, and this was my only opportunity.
“Co-op Live let everyone inside from about 7ish, (knowing Nicki had been arrested) then towards 10pm told us she was postponed after we’d all been inside spending money! The atmosphere was good at first but then people started becoming tense and after the announcement everyone was running angry, literally crying and all sorts of things. It was awful.”
Leonnie has lost out on a lot of money now that she is unable to attend the rearranged gig date. It was also supposed to be her first gig.
“I went by myself and spent hours and hours travelling due to train delays to get there for nothing,” she said. “Money wasted on my hair, nails, outfit, travel and hotel for nothing that I can’t get back. This was meant to be my first concert too and it’s put me off for life.”
Leonnie outlined what she feels could have gone better about the gig, that was only officially called off shortly after 9.30pm. Fans had been let into Co-op Live from 7pm.
“As soon as Nicki was arrested the event should have been postponed, not waiting till nearly 10pm,” she said. “People’s travel and hotel should be reimbursed.”
A statement from Live Nation and Co-op Live on Saturday night said: “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.”