Rapper Ja Rule, also known as Jeffrey Bruce Atkins Sr., has been denied entry into the UK just days before his scheduled tour in Cardiff was set to begin. The American musician was supposed to kick off his Sunrise tour at the Utilita Arena in Cardiff on Friday, followed by performances in London, Birmingham, Nottingham, Leeds, and Liverpool.
Ja Rule, famous for hits like Always On Time and Thug Lovin’, took to social media to express his frustration, stating, “I’m so devastated – I can’t believe the UK won’t let me in. I’ve spent a half million dollars of my own money to put this tour together only to be denied entry days before my shows.”
The 47-year-old rapper attributed the denial to his criminal record, as he was released from prison in May 2013 after serving two years on gun possession and tax evasion charges. Ja Rule highlighted the UK’s strict entry restrictions for individuals with criminal records, stating, “The UK is one of the few European countries that restricts entry to people with criminal records.”
Despite the setback, tickets for Ja Rule’s shows are still available on Ticketmaster. In response to a fan inquiring about refunds, Ticketmaster’s customer service team assured that once confirmed information is received, an email will be sent to all customers for the event.
It is unfortunate that Ja Rule’s UK tour has hit a roadblock due to entry restrictions based on his criminal record. Fans who were eagerly anticipating his performances will now have to wait for further updates on the situation.
