Cardi B says she would have been in Kingston on October 18 if things had come together, and she wants Jamaican fans to know the collapse wasn’t her doing.
The Bronx rapper posted a video explaining why she pulled out of BZR WKND, a day after her team confirmed she would no longer headline “Cardi B & Friends” at the National Stadium.
The catch is that she can’t actually say what went wrong. “I tried my best, I waited for things to get in place and together but it didn’t,” she said.
Contracts are keeping the details locked up for now. “I can’t talk. I can’t talk due to contracts. But just know, it wasn’t me,” Cardi explained.
She kept it brief, but the frustration came through. “I waited this long, I was trying to give chances. I don’t want to say much. I wish I could come,” she added.
She also pushed back on chatter that slow ticket sales were behind the pullout. According to Cardi, she had heard that more than 18,000 tickets had been sold. That number is what she says she was told, though, not a confirmed figure from the promoter.
For Cardi, the trip was supposed to be more than a paycheck. She said she planned to stick around the island with friends and family after the show. She still hopes to perform for her Jamaican fans down the line.
On the other side, BZR WKND’s management is asking ticket holders to hang tight. “We understand the excitement and anticipation surrounding this event, and we recognise that fans and ticket holders are looking for clarity,” the team said in a statement.
The organizers promised an official update once more details are confirmed. So far there’s no word on refunds and no replacement headliner, which leaves fans in limbo.
Cardi’s reps had already pointed all ticketing and event questions back to the organizers when they announced her withdrawal.
The reversal stings because this booking was sold for months as Cardi’s Jamaican debut. The Gleaner reported that her manager, Kelvin Santiago, showed up at the August media launch at AC Hotel Kingston. Keyshia Cole was later added to the bill, with dancehall star Spice tapped as host.
Santiago sounded thrilled at the time. “She’s very excited. It’s her first stadium show that she’s ever done and her first show here. So, we’re excited. Can’t wait,” he told the paper.
Promoter Gramps Morgan had also promised production matching the festival’s previous edition, which was headlined by Chris Brown. That’s a high bar for a weekend now missing its biggest name.
The date had been slotted in after Cardi’s Little Miss Drama Tour, which grossed $70 million and sold 453,000 tickets across 35 shows. Her team says any future performances will be announced only through her official channels.
Jamaican fans holding tickets are now keeping one eye on Cardi’s pages and the other on BZR WKND’s for whatever comes next.
