The Sunrise tour, which the rapper Ja Rule—real name Jeffrey Bruce Atkins Sr.—was scheduled to begin on Friday at the Utilita Arena in the city, but he was not allowed to enter the United Kingdom.
Cardiff was meant to be the starting point of the tour, with stops in London, Birmingham, Nottingham, Leeds, and Liverpool following. The 47-year-old said his criminal record was the reason behind the refusal.
“I am so devastated – I can not believe the UK will not let me in,” the singer, who is best known for hits like “Always On Tie,” featuring Ashanti, and “Thug Lovin’,” posted on social media.
“I paid half a million dollars for this tour, but I was told I could not get in days before my performances.” These venues are 85% sold out, and I am unable to attend. This is unfair to both me and my fans.”
“The UK is one of the few European countries that restricts entry to people with criminal records,” added Ja Rule, who was released in May 2013 after serving two years in prison for gun possession and tax evasion.
A fan who tweeted the company about refunds received an answer from the website’s customer service team saying, “An email will be sent to all customers for the event once we receive confirmed information.”
“You will probably not be allowed entry if you have served more than 12 months in prison or if you have been convicted of a crime punishable by 23 months or more under British law,” the statement says.
