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The decision to arrest Nicki Minaj in Amsterdam last weekend was not motivated by race, Dutch police have said, adding that it was “annoying she drew that card.”
Their reaction comes after the US rapper was arrested at Schiphol Airport last Saturday and fined 350 Euros ($380) after police said they found dozens of joints in her luggage.
At the time, Minaj called her treatment by the authorities “disgusting” and opined this was partly due to her being from “a confident other race.”
Now the BBC reports that Dutch police have rejected this, quoting a spokesperson: “We just do our job and it is protocol to search luggage and arrest a person when we find drugs.
“The arrest was around 17.30 and the release at 21.30. We stand for a professional organisation that treats everybody equal, no matter what.”
The BBC quoted a Dutch military police spokesperson saying: “I think that it all went very smoothly. It’s annoying that she drew that card.”
Minaj had to postpone her show that evening in Manchester, UK, where 20,000 fans were waiting for her to appear on stage. The gig was postponed to this month. She spoke on the livestreaming platform Stationhead this week, when she addressed the incident:
“Not being able to get to Manchester, I don’t know when was the last time I felt that that low.
“And not only that, but just knowing that that something is being done to you on purpose. You are a confident other race, you know?
“But I’m not going to get into it and tell you guys the joy they took in it, even while I was there. But you know what? There was one lady there – all the rest were men – and I could tell she had a heart.
“But the treatment was just disgusting. And I wouldn’t wish that on anyone.”
A police spokesperson told BBC News: “We just do our job and it is protocol to search luggage and arrest a person when we find drugs.
“The arrest was around 17.30, the release at 21.30. We stand for a professional organisation that treats everybody equal, no matter what.”
At the time, Dutch prosecutors announced she had been carrying 30 to 100 grams of cannabis – but Minaj claimed “the pre-rolls” belonged to her security guard.
James Parker is a UK-based entertainment aficionado who delves into the glitz and glamour of the entertainment industry. From Hollywood to the West End, he offers readers an insider’s perspective on the world of movies, music, and pop culture.
