Rapper Ja Rule says he was refused admission to the United Kingdom days before he was supposed to kick off a tour in Wales on Friday, followed by a gig in London the next day.
“I’m so devastated I can’t believe the UK won’t let me in. I’ve spent a half million dollars in production of my own money to put this tour together just to be denied admission DAYS before my shows,” the “Always on Time” performer raged on social media Tuesday. “This is not fair to me or my fans. These stadiums are 85% sold and now I can’t come.”
“The UK is one of the few European countries that restricts entry to people with criminal records,” he said in a follow-up post. “In general, you will likely be denied entry if you have been convicted of a crime punishable by 23 months or more under British law or served more than 12 months in prison.”
The rapper, born Jeffrey Bruce Atkins Sr., was sentenced to a two-year jail term in 2010 on a weapons charge. He was slammed with another two-year imprisonment in 2011 for tax evasion.
fter swearing that he’ll find of some way to make his canceled gigs up to his fans overseas, Ja Rule’s wrath continued Wednesday.
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“My team made it CLEAR to the promoter that I have a criminal record and can’t get in the country…The PROMOTER swore this wouldn’t be an issue,” he wrote on X. “The PROMOTER started selling tickets y’all love to blame the artist lol… GET YOUR REFUNDS!!”
On the upside, Ja Rule will be home — or anyplace but the U.K. — to celebrate his Feb. 29 birthday, which only occurs every four years. The Queens native turns 48 on Thursday.
