Ja Rule instructed his British followers that he was “devastated” that his deliberate U.Okay. anniversary tour has been scotched after he was denied entry into the nation as a result of his prison report. “I’m so devastated I can’t imagine the UK gained’t let me in I’ve spent a half million {dollars} in manufacturing of my very own cash to place this tour collectively solely to be denied entry DAYS earlier than my reveals this isn’t honest to me or my followers these venues are 85% bought and now I can’t come…,” the rapper wrote on Instagram on Tuesday (Feb. 27).
Again in December, Ja (born Jeffrey Bruce Atkins Sr.), 47, introduced the dates for the Dawn Tour, a twenty fifth anniversary swing celebrating his quarter century in music and the discharge of his 1999 debut album, Venni Vetti Vecci. The ten-show run was slated to characteristic assist from Keri Hilson, Lloyd and Mya and kick off on Friday (March 1) on the Utilita Area Cardiff in Cardiff earlier than occurring to London, Birmingham, Nottingham, Leeds, Liverpool, Newcastle, Dublin and Belfast earlier than winding down on March 17 in Glasgow on the OVO Hydro.
In a sequence of follow-up tweets, Ja wrote, “The UK is among the few European international locations that restricts entry to individuals with prison data. On the whole, you’ll doubtless be denied entry if in case you have been convicted of a criminal offense punishable by 23 months or extra beneath British regulation or served greater than 12 months in jail.” Ja was sentenced to 2 years in jail in 2010 after pleading responsible to tried possession of a weapon in reference to a 2007 arrest on gun and drug possession prices; in 2011, he sentenced to a further two-years in jail on tax evasion prices.
Following the denial, Ja wrote on Wednesday (Feb. 28) that he’s “gonna do one thing particular for my UK followers since I’ll NEVER be capable of come throughout the pond,” later adding, “My group made it CLEAR to the promoter that I’ve a prison report and may’t get within the nation…The PROMOTER swore this wouldn’t be a difficulty The PROMOTER began promoting tickets y’all like to blame the artist lol… GET YOUR REFUNDS!!!”
The U.Okay. sometimes refuses entry to anybody who has “been convicted of a prison offense punishable by a minimum of 12 months imprisonment” in line with the U.Okay. charity Unlock. At press time spokespeople for Ja Rule and Ticketmaster had not returned Billboard‘s request for remark.
See Ja’s announcement in regards to the tour cancelation beneath.