Lil Wayne pulls out of headlining Strawberries & Creem after Home Office bans him from entering UK

Charlie Herbert

The festival has labelled the decision from the Home Office as ‘sudden and negative’

Lil Wayne has pulled out of performing at Strawberries and Creem festival this weekend after the Home Office denied him entry to the UK.

The rapper, real name Dwayne Michael Carter Jr., was due to perform at the festival in Cambridge on Saturday (June 18).

However he has been denied entry to the UK due to prior convictions he had relating to gun possession.

In a statement, festival organisers said the rapper’s withdrawal was because of “extreme circumstances beyond [its] control or influence.”

It continued: “We are very sorry to inform you that Lil Wayne is now unable to perform at the festival.

“Lil Wayne has been refused entry to the UK directly by the Home Office in a last-minute decision.

“We are deeply disappointed by this sudden and negative ruling. We have received very minimal notice, and the timing of the decision is of course upsetting for all involved – including Lil Wayne’s fans, as well as the festival team.”

Grammy-winning rapper Ludacris will be performing a “UK exclusive” set on the Saturday instead.

🚨 Strawberries & Creem Festival UPDATE 🚨

Lil Wayne will no longer be performing at Strawberries & Creem 2022.
LUDACRIS will now perform on Saturday.

👇 Official statement and more info belowhttps://t.co/wc3UeTOtnj pic.twitter.com/KEM1sIX6xG

— ticketmasteruk (@TicketmasterUK) June 15, 2022

Although the Home Office said it would not comment on individual cases, it told the BBC: “Any individual who has been sentenced to a custodial sentence of 12 months or more must have their application refused.”

In 2007 Lil Wayne was arrested after a gun was discovered on his tour bus, and in 2010 he pleaded guilty to gun possession, resulting in him being sentenced to a year behind bars.

Then, in December 2019 he was found carrying a gun and bullets when police searched his private plane.

He could have faced up to a decade in prison, but was given a full White House pardon by then-president Donald Trump.

As a result of the rapper dropping out of the festival, which has been running since 2014, some fans have resorted to selling their ticket.

I have 2 Strawberries and Creem festival tickets and a parking ticket for the 18th June for sale! all for £90 in total, please someone take them from me!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

— LoveMimi (@ENGINEERMIMI_) June 15, 2022

The festival has offered all Saturday ticket holders a free ticket for the Sunday, or a discount on tickets for next year’s festival.

Organisers added: “In absence of any statement from Lil Wayne, we would like to apologise to everyone who was coming to see him perform at S&C. We look forward to welcoming the iconic Ludacris to the stage instead.

“We can’t wait to see all of you this weekend. Love and thank you for your support as always.”

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