The festival season will end with fans of Lil Wayne not getting to see him rock the stage in the U.K. after waiting fourteen years to see this happen. The Strawberries & Creem festival had the Young Money Rapper as their headliner this Saturday. But things didn’t work out eventually. The United Kingdom’s Home Office, according to Hotnewhiphop, denied Lil Wayne entry into Britain in a last-minute decision.
According to a statement provided to Rolling Stone, Home Office travel policy requires them to refuse the visa application of any individual with a custodial sentence of 12 months or more.
Strawberries & Creem Response
Strawberries & Creem also expressed disappointment in the sudden development and adverse ruling. Their statement reads,
“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. Across the weekend, we still have an incredible array of artists joining us.”
View this post on Instagram
Lil Wayne Denied Entry, Not The First Time
Lil Wayne seems to be experiencing travel issues recently. Sadly, this is the second festival couldn’t attend. Scheduled to hit the stage at the Governor’s Ball in New York City last weekend, the festival later announced his nonappearance because of a flight disruption. And A$AP Ferg, who was already replacing the Migos who dropped out, had to take his spot. Wayne has had no problems with the law this year. But the problem may be due to his felony gun charges from an incident in December 2020.
Also, the five-time Grammy Award winner had pleaded guilty to illegal possession of a firearm by a convicted felon resulting from weapons charges in 2007. He was facing a potentially heavy jail time of up to 10 years. But former President Trump had extended a presidential pardon to the rapper on his last full day in office in January 2021.