According to the Strawberries and Creem Festival, where he was scheduled to perform on Saturday, the American rapper’s visa was denied by the Home Office in a “last-minute decision.” He was supposed to perform alongside Tion Wayne, Mabel, Wilkinson, and Katy B. The rapper, who is 38 years old, is one of the most well-known hip-hop musicians of all time. According to the Recording Industry Association of America, he has sold tens of millions of albums and 70 million singles. In the United States, that sum ranks 12th all-time. He’s also won five Grammy Awards and charted over 100 tracks on the Billboard Hot 100.
The event organizers said they had “received minimal notice” when they announced the lineup change, and that the timing was “upsetting for all involved.”
“We are very sorry to inform you that Lil Wayne will no longer be able to play at the festival due to extreme circumstances beyond our control or influence,” they continued. “In a last-minute decision, the Home Office has refused Lil Wayne entry to the United Kingdom.” This abrupt and harsh verdict has left us very dissatisfied.” The festival was supposed to be the multi-Grammy winner’s lone European performance in 2022, according to organizers.
The Home Office confirmed the rapper’s denial of entry, stating that anyone serving a 12-month or longer sentence “must have their application refused.” In 2010, Lil Wayne was sentenced to a year in prison for gun possession, serving eight months of his sentence. He admitted to a federal weapons offence in 2020. After his luggage was searched upon his arrival in the Miami region from California on Dec. 23, 2019, the 38-year-old rapper admitted to holding a.45 caliber gold-plated revolver and six rounds of ammo. Carter claimed the rifle was a Father’s Day gift, according to the search warrant. Carter was convicted of firearms possession in New York more than a decade ago, and was sentenced to eight months in prison. Federal law prohibits convicted felons from possessing weapons. On January 20, 2021, the former president, Donald Trump, pardoned him.
Ludacris, a Grammy winner, will now take Lil Wayne’s place on stage, but the move has angered ticket holders, who have demanded a full refund. One user wrote on Twitter, “Gotta be issuing refunds here. Literally, the only act people are coming for is Wayne. The only reason he hasn’t performed in the UK for so long was because he was refused entry before, so surely you checked this before announcing him?” Another person said, ”Absolutely no way. Please let me know if I can receive a full refund. This is false advertising” As a result, the festival has offered guests free access on Sunday or a discount on tickets for the following year’s festival.
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