Nicki Minaj fans chant "Nicki's Free" outside her Manchester hotel room after she was released following arrest in Amsterdam

On May 25, 2024, Nicki Minaj was arrested at Schiphol Airport in Amsterdam on suspicion of exporting soft drugs. The rapper, who was later released on a €350 fine, canceled her Pink Friday 2 World Tour show at Manchester's Co-Op Live on Saturday due to the airport hold-up.

Following her release, Minaj took to X to apologize to her fans for canceling her show and asked them to stop by the Stock Exchange Hotel in Manchester, where she was staying, so she could see them and talk to them.

“To my #GagCityManchester Barbz, I’m going on the balcony so if you’re outside I’ll be able to see you & I may come downstairs. I’ll be out there for about an hour. Rlly wanted to at least get to see you. But if you’re in bed plz STAY THERE. I’ll update you guys tmrw. Love you," she tweeted.

Her loyal fans, nicknamed Barbz, gathered around the Manchester hotel's entrance, chanting "Nicki's Free".

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Nicki Minaj live-streamed her arrest in Amsterdam

On Saturday afternoon, Micki Minaj live-streamed a part of her arrest on Instagram. In the clip, a police officer could be seen telling her she was under arrest for carrying drugs, to which Minaj replied:

“I’m not carrying drugs.”

According to BBC, Dutch authorities claimed Minaj, 41, was carrying 30 to 100 grams of cannabis - but Minaj claimed "the pre-rolls" belonged to her security guard.

In the clip she posted on Instagram, she was ushered out of her vehicle and was asked to get into the police vehicle. The Barbie World rapper initially refused, asking for a lawyer.

Nicki Minaj also repeatedly asked for the address of the police precinct, which the police did not seemingly provide her with. The Dutch authorities can also be seen asking her to stop filming, which she refused.

According to CNN, the Netherlands military police, known as the Royal Netherlands Marechaussee, said they arrested a 41-year-old American woman with "soft drugs" at the Schiphol Airport.

Later on Saturday, the authorities stated that the woman detained in their custody “on suspicion of exporting soft drugs" has been released.

“Following consultation with the Public Prosecutor’s Office, the suspect received a monetary fine and is now permitted to continue her journey,” the statement continued.

Nicki Minaj was detained for five to six hours, which resulted in her canceling her Manchester show scheduled for that night.

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Nicki Minaj asked fans to accept her "deepest & most sincere apologies" for canceled show

In the early hours of Sunday, Nicki Minaj took to X to apologize to the Manchester Barbz for the canceled show and claimed "they" succeeded in their plan to not let her get on stage that day. It is unclear who the "they" she is referring to is.

"So they succeeded at their plan to not let me get on that stage tonight. I succeeded @ getting to the root of it all by recording them & posting everything in real time. I have sooooooooo much video evidence. You wouldn’t believe it if I told you. I’ll have the lawyers & GOD take it from here tho. Please please please accept my deepest & most sincere apologies," she tweeted.

She also added that a rescheduled date for the canceled Manchester show will be announced shortly.

The following show in Birmingham continued as scheduled on Sunday. Nicki Minaj is now expected to perform in London, then Glasgow, before arriving in Manchester for a second show on May 30.

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Pink Friday 2 World Tour kicked off in Oakland, California, on March 1, 2024, to promote Nicki Minaj's fifth studio album Pink Friday 2, released on December 8, 2023.