Nicki Minaj’s Arrest Wasn’t Racially Motivated, Dutch Police Insist

Last week, Nicki Minaj was arrested in Amsterdam and hit with a drug charge, later getting released and given a fine. She canceled her scheduled performances in the Netherlands capital as a result, and soon took to social media to vent. The “FTCU” rapper made it clear that she wasn’t happy with the way she was treated by authorities. She suggested that the run-in could have been a result of racial profiling, citing a similarly unfortunate situation Ari Lennox dealt with in 2021.

Now, however, Dutch police are refuting those claims. A rep for the department recently spoke with the NOS, stating that authorities were simply following protocol. Moreover, they called it “annoying” that Nicki suggested the arrest could have been racially motivated, insisting that they treat everyone equally.

Read More: Nicki Minaj Reveals The Dates For The Second North American Leg Of Her “Pink Friday 2” Tour

Dutch Police Claim Nicki Minaj’s Arrest Went “Smoothly”

Nicki Minaj’s Arrest Wasn’t Racially Motivated, Dutch Police Insist
Nicki Minaj speaks onstage during the 2023 MTV Video Music Awards at Prudential Center on September 12, 2023 in Newark, New Jersey. (Photo by Mike Coppola/Getty Images for MTV)

“It’s annoying if she experienced it that way,” the rep said. “We arrested her when we found dozens of joints in her luggage. The lady was released four hours after arrest in consultation with the public prosecutor, and after paying a fine. I think that it all went very smoothly. It’s annoying that she drew that card.”

They also spoke with BBC about the incident, making similar claims. “We just do our job, and it is protocol to search luggage and arrest a person when we find drugs,” they told the outlet. “The arrest was around 5:30 p.m., the release at 9:30 p.m. We stand for a professional organization that treats everybody equal, no matter what.” What do you think of Dutch authorities’ response to Nicki Minaj claiming that her recent arrest could have been racially motivated? What about them calling it “annoying” that she made the suggestion? Share your thoughts in the comments section down below, and keep an eye on HNHH for more updates.

Read More: Nicki Minaj Reveals The Poor Treatment She Received In Amsterdam

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Nicki Minaj Discusses Her Feelings During Her Arrest In Amsterdam

Nicki Minaj has had many eventful weeks so far in 2024. The first was when she found herself embroiled in a beef with Megan Thee Stallion. Meg threw out a diss aimed at Nicki’s husband on her song “HISS.” Minaj responded by manically retweeting her fans posts online constantly for multiple days and eventually dropping her own response track “Big Foot.” Since February, she’s made weekly news for the stops on her Pink Friday 2 tour which have often featured attention-grabbing surprise guests.

But this week may have been her most eventful in a long time. It started over the weekend when Nicki was arrested in Amsterdam for alleged drug charges. Videos of her interactions with police in the country made the rounds online as her fans took issue with her treatment. Once Minaj was released she was even more critical of the police’s behavior on social media. She was released from custody a few hours later and given a fine. She even went as far as to claim that the arrest was racially motivated and cited an incident with Ari Lennox as another example. Check out her newest statement discussing the arrest below.

Read More: Nicki Minaj Dismisses “Bully” Backlash

Nicki Minaj Reflects On Amsterdam Arrest

 
 
 
 
 
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In her most recent statement addressing her recent arrest, Nicki discussed having to cancel her Manchester stop because of the arrest. She claims she can’t remember the last time she felt “that low.” Thankfully for Nicki and her fans in Manchester it didn’t take long for a rescheduled tour date to emerge. Just two days after she was arrested she had another show booked to make up for the canceled date. She also recently announced a second North American leg of the tour for later this year.

What do you think of Nicki Minaj’s newest reflection on her recent arrest in Amsterdam that forced her to cancel one of her tour stops? Do you agree with her that there was a racially motivated element to her arrest? Let us know in the comment section below.

Read More: What Was Nicki Minaj’s Debut Single?

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Nicki Minaj Allegedly Arrested In Amsterdam: What We Know

Rapper Nicki Minaj should have trended for her concert at Co-op Live in Machester, England, on Saturday, May 25, 2024, as part of her Pink Friday 2 World Tour. However, she trended for the wrong reasons after reports revealed that she had been arrested in the Netherlands capital, Amsterdam. Nicki Minaj was arrested for allegedly possessing drugs. The rapper posted a video on social media showing an Amsterdam police officer explaining the reason for her arrest.

Nicki’s video sparked concern among her fans on social media. Also, fans in Manchester who were getting set for her concert that night were worried the show wouldn’t hold. Those fans’ worst fears were confirmed later after the show’s cancellation. Meanwhile, Nicki Minaj was eventually released after posting bail. She apologized to her fans in Manchester for the show’s cancellation and bemoaned her Amsterdam ordeal. Here’s all we know about Nicki Minaj’s arrest in Amsterdam.

Read More: Nicki Minaj Insinuates Amsterdam Arrest Was Racial Profiling, Brings Up Ari Lennox’s Experience

Nicki Minaj’s Arrest

On May 25, Nicki Minaj took to X to share updates about her detention in Amsterdam. She posted a video showing her conversation with a staff member at Amsterdam’s Schiphol Airport. The airport staff told Nicki that police ordered her luggage to be searched. The information didn’t please Nicki, who wondered why they didn’t search it earlier. In another tweet, Nicki claimed the Amsterdam authorities had been doing everything possible to stop her tour.

One of Nicki’s fans suggested that the airport authorities waited until the last minute to search her luggage because they knew it would inconvenience her. She replied to the fan’s post, “They took my luggage & when I asked where it is they said it’s on the plane. It couldn’t have been, I just pulled up.” Nicki also shared that she never gave the airport staff her bags, adding that they were refusing to let her see her bags. In another X post, The BET Awards 2024 Best Female Hip-Hop Artist nominee wrote, “They’re being paid big money to try to sabotage my tour b/c soooooo many ppl are mad that it’s this successful & they can’t eat off me. They got caught stealing money from my travel/jets. Got fired. Got mad. Etc.”

Nicki Minaj’s Claims

Nicki Minaj’s fans became worried as she continued to update them about her ordeal in Amsterdam. The rapper was also infuriated, as evidenced by the tone of her posts. Nicki tweeted, “This is how they plant things in your luggage,” before adding, “I’m on the jet alone.” In her next post, Nicki shed more light on what she felt caused her ordeal. She claimed that the airport authorities always try to make her book another jet. She wrote, “All b/c I fired mngmnt who I found out for years were adding on 30-50K on my jet & pocketing it. I fired a tour mngr recently who was doing the same thing & mad he got the boot. Their goal is to make me late, & to pocket 40K.”

Nicki continued posting more updates. She claimed the airport authorities were trying to keep her from Manchester. The “Super Bass” crooner revealed that her luggage was taken without her consent. She also reposted her fans’ tweets as they commented on the matter.

Nicki Minaj Reveals Amsterdam Authorities Found Weed in Her Luggage

After a while, Nicki Minaj expressed more frustration. She revealed the airport authorities accused her of carrying marijuana. Nicki wrote, “😩 now they said they found weed & that another group of ppl have to come here to weigh the pre-rolls. Keep in mind they took my bags without consent. My security has already advised them those pre-rolls belong to him. Oh yea & the pilot wants me to take my ig post down.” In another post, Nicki, who previously suggested that it was ironic for her to be detained for marijuana possession despite it being legal in the Netherlands, said her arrest was a ploy to make her late for her tour and write negative stories about her.

Nicki made more posts and reposts about her situation. She continued to emphasize her belief that the airport authorities delayed her intentionally. However, she noted, “They didn’t know I was planning for them just like they were planning for me. Me filming every single thing made them really mad.” Later, the award-winning rapper revealed she was asked to write a statement. She wrote, “Now they said I have to go 5 mins aways to make a statement about my security to the police [precinct].” Meanwhile, Robert Van Kapel, a Netherlands military police spokesperson, confirmed Nicki Minaj’s arrest. In a statement, Robert said a 41-year-old American woman was arrested for exporting “soft drugs.” However, Robert didn’t identify the woman or detail the type of drug found in her possession.

Read More: Nicki Minaj Officially Announces Rescheduled Manchester Show Following Amsterdam Arrest

Nicki Minaj Apologizes to Fans

Nicki Minaj calmed her worried fans’ fears hours later following her release. The Dutch police confirmed Nicki’s release in a statement. They said, “After consultation with the Public Prosecution Service, the suspect was fined and can continue her journey.” Reports later revealed that Nicki Minaj was fined €350 (about $380).

In an emotional post, Nicki thanked everyone who prayed for her amid her ordeal in Amsterdam. She revealed she was at the Stock Exchange Hotel in Manchester. Nicki also claimed that she spent “5-6 hours” sitting in a jail cell. She narrated her flight experience before taking the time to appreciate Co-op Live for trying to delay the concert start time as much as possible. She wrote, “That’s why they had to do the big song & dance b/c they knew I’d still find a way to perform even if it came down to my last 90 mins in the building which would have been until 1130pm. The building was willing to go past 11pm. So grateful to them for that.”

Nicki shared that despite not hitting the stage for her concert, she got to the root of the matter in Amsterdam. She revealed that she had so much video evidence and would let her lawyers and God take charge. Afterward, Nicki apologized to her fans. She wrote, “Please please please accept my deepest & most sincere apologies. They sure did know exactly how to hurt me today but this too, shall pass. They’ve been doing this over & over & over again & I’ve tried so hard to not discuss it b/c you guys deserve to just get the good stuff. I hate involving you in anything that isn’t for entertainment purposes only.”

Nicki Postpones Manchester Concert

A sad fallout from Nicki Minaj’s arrest in Amsterdam was the postponement of her scheduled Manchester concert. She told her fans there would be a new date for the show, with the options being June or July. Nicki promised, “I’ll find a way to not only make up the date with the performance but I’m going to create an added bonus for everyone that had a tkt for this show.”

Co-op Live and the show’s promoter also confirmed the concert’s cancellation via a statement on X. The statement read, “Nicki Minaj’s performance at Manchester’s Co-op Live on Saturday 25th May has been postponed. Tickets will remain valid for the rescheduled performance which will be announced ASAP.” The statement revealed that Nicki explored all avenues to make the show happen, but her efforts were ultimately futile. The statement concluded, “We are deeply disappointed by the inconvenience this has caused. More information will be available at your point of purchase.”

Nicki Minaj Posts New Date for Postponed Manchester Concert

However, despite postponing her Manchester concert, Nicki confirmed she would still perform in Birmingham on May 26 and honor her second Manchester show on May 30. On Monday, May 27, Nicki responded to a fan who wanted an update on the new date for her postponed Manchester concert. She wrote, “Yes, they’d like for me to do JULY 10th. They’ll send you guys official word. What do you think about that date?”

Some hours later, she posted another update. Nicki wrote, “OK guys, I was JUST RE-ADVISED that we actually CAN NOT do any other date for the make up #gagcityMANCHESTER date besides JUNE 3rd. So JUNE 3rd is the new official date for all ticket holders who originally had tickets to the MAY 25th #Manchester show.” The rapper added, “I apologize for all the inconvenience this has caused. I really hope you can make the #JUNE3rd show. It’ll be really special. Ticketmaster will contact you to advise officially. #GAGCITY Love you.”

Nicki Minaj Continues Offensive Against Amsterdam Authorities

Despite overcoming her Amsterdam troubles, Nicki Minaj still had much to say to the Amsterdam authorities. She began by reposting 2021 news articles about R&B singer Ari Lennox’s travails in the Dutch capital. One of the news reports said the Dutch police arrested Ari for being “full of emotions” and “wouldn’t calm down,” while another said she was arrested after tweeting that she was racially profiled by airline staff.

Nicki also reposted a fan’s tweet in which they advised black artists to avoid touring Amsterdam. The rapper then commented on one of the news reports about Ari. Nicki wrote, “She was “full of emotions”. She was arrested b/c she was full of emotions in AmsterDAM. Hmmmmm interesting. I didn’t know this was a “thing” there. Who spoke up for her? Could’ve easily been another Sandra Bland incident. I’m so happy she made it out alive & well.”

So far, there hasn’t been any more word from the Dutch police about Nicki Minaj’s arrest. Nicki is obviously still pissed about her ordeal and seems ready to go all the way in getting back at her perceived detractors. We can only wait to see how the situation eventually pans out. For now, Nicki remains committed to giving her Manchester fans a concert to remember on June 3.

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Nicki Minaj Officially Announces Rescheduled Manchester Show Following Amsterdam Arrest

Nicki Minaj will officially be returning to Manchester on June 3rd after she had to cancel Saturday’s concert in the city. She made the announcement in a post on X (formerly Twitter) on Monday following her arrest in Amsterdam over the weekend.

“OK guys, I was JUST RE-ADVISED that we actually CAN NOT do any other date for the make up #gagcityMANCHESTER date besides JUNE 3rd,” Minaj wrote on X. “So JUNE 3rd is the new official date for all ticket holders who originally had tickets to the MAY 25th #Manchester show. I apologize for all the inconvenience this has caused. I really hope you can make the #JUNE3rd show. It’ll be really special. Ticketmaster will contact you to advise officially.”

Read More: Nicki Minaj Insinuates Amsterdam Arrest Was Racial Profiling, Brings Up Ari Lennox’s Experience

Nicki Minaj Performs During The “Pink Friday 2 World Tour”

OAKLAND, CALIFORNIA – MARCH 01: (Exclusive Coverage) Nicki Minaj performs during the opening night of her Pink Friday 2 World Tour at Oakland Arena on March 01, 2024, in Oakland, California. (Photo by Kevin Mazur/WireImage for Live Nation)

Authorities detained Minaj for allegedly carrying drugs with her as she attempted to travel to Manchester. She recorded the incident on Instagram Live before later calling it a “sabotage” of her tour. “They’ve been trying to stop me from coming to every show,” she wrote on X. “They took my bags before I could see them. Put it on the plane. Now saying they’re waiting on customs. This is what it looks like when ppl are paid big money to try to sabotage a tour after all else failed. Everything they’ve done is illegal.” She eventually confirmed that she wouldn’t make it to that night’s show but offered to say hello to fans outside of her hotel. Check out her announcement about the new dates below.

Nicki Minaj Updates Fans On Rescheduled Concert

Before then, she’ll be performing in London, Paris, and more stops. Be on the lookout for further updates on Nicki Minaj on HotNewHipHop.

Read More: Megan Thee Stallion Invites Natalie Nunn On Stage Just A Few Months After Nicki Minaj Beef

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Nicki Minaj Insinuates Amsterdam Arrest Was Racial Profiling, Brings Up Ari Lennox’s Experience

Nicki Minaj is now free from custody in Amsterdam, where authorities shockingly arrested her for drug possession without much of an explanation. However, despite the very vague and concerning nature of this arrest, it seems like she was finally able to get out of that situation with no further hiccups. Now, it’s time for Roman to look back on what happened, and she thinks that it’s a much more discriminatory situation than some might believe. Moreover, she took to Twitter early Sunday morning (May 26) to speak on Ari Lennox’s arrest in Amsterdam a couple of years ago, and to reference the controversial and tragic case of Sandra Bland, who police arrested for a traffic stop and found deceased in jail days later.

“[Ari Lennox] was ‘full of emotions,’” Nicki Minaj’s tweet began. “She was arrested b/c she was full of emotions in AmsterDAM. Hmmmmm interesting. I didn’t know this was a ‘thing’ there. Who spoke up for her? Could’ve easily been another Sandra Bland incident. I’m so happy she made it out alive & well.” If you’re unfamiliar with Ari Lennox’s story, authorities arrested her in Amsterdam for reportedly disorderly conduct, but many felt like there was racial motivation..

Read More: Megan Thee Stallion Invites Natalie Nunn On Stage Just A Few Months After Nicki Minaj Beef

Nicki Minaj Speaks On Ari Lennox Amsterdam Situation After Her Arrest

Even with all this controversy in mind, the Pink Friday 2 tour has still been as successful as ever, with a second North American leg gracing fans very soon. This really excited Nicki Minaj’s die-hards, even if this news about the arrest makes every performance a little more stressful for fans given the bizarre and out-of-nowhere hiccups that she faced along the road. This isn’t the first time that she dealt with extenuating circumstances that threatened to delay or sabotage the trek. In fact, a lot of fans (and maybe the Trinidadian MC herself) think that these represent deliberate attempts to bring her down.

While that is more of a conspiratorial take, there is also plenty of success that Nicki Minaj deserved to celebrate if it wasn’t for this arrest. “Bang Bang” just became her second Diamond song, and Pink Friday 2‘s hits still have plenty of mileage. This tour could be a space for Nicki to celebrate herself, her fans, her material, and her trajectory. Sadly, it sometimes made her reckon with the pitfalls of fame and potential discrimination, but we hope things pick up from here and that the shows make it all somewhat worth it.

Read More: Nicki Minaj Accused Of Leaking Alleged Diddy & Meek Mill Audio By Jaguar Wright

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Nicki Minaj Released From Police Custody In Amsterdam

Nicki Minaj has reportedly been released from police custody following her viral arrest in Amsterdam on Saturday morning. The Pink Friday 2 rapper recorded the incident on Instagram Live, showing an official attempt to bring her into custody for “carrying drugs,” despite her claiming not to be holding any. In turn, she demanded to speak with a lawyer before going any further.

In another Instagram post, she theorized that her ongoing tour is being “sabotaged.” “They’ve been trying to stop me from coming to every show,” she wrote. “They took my bags before I could see them. Put it on the plane. Now saying they’re waiting on customs. This is what it looks like when ppl are paid big money to try to sabotage a tour after all else failed. Everything they’ve done is illegal.” She will reportedly have to pay “a fine” for the incident.

Read More: Nicki Minaj Reportedly Arrested In Amsterdam For Drug Possession, Blasts Police Online

Nicki Minaj Attends 2024 Met Gala

NEW YORK, NEW YORK – MAY 06: Nicki Minaj attends The 2024 Met Gala Celebrating “Sleeping Beauties: Reawakening Fashion” on May 06, 2024 in New York City. (Photo by Neil Mockford/GC Images)

Minaj was attempting to fly to the United Kingdom as she was slated to perform at Manchester’s Co-Op Live on Saturday night as part of her Pink Friday 2 Tour. In more posts on X (formerly Twitter), Minaj added further context. “Now they said they found weed & that another group of ppl have to come here to weigh the pre-rolls,” she wrote. “Keep in mind they took my bags without consent… My security has already advised them those pre-rolls belong to him. Oh yea & the pilot wants me to take my ig post down.” She’s since postponed the show in Manchester.

Nicki Minaj Arrested In Amsterdam

 
 
 
 
 
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Check out Minaj’s Instagram post about the situation above. Be on the lookout for further updates on Nicki Minaj on HotNewHipHop.

Read More: Megan Thee Stallion Invites Natalie Nunn On Stage Just A Few Months After Nicki Minaj Beef

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Nicki Minaj Reportedly Arrested In Amsterdam For Drug Possession, Blasts Police Online

On her tour travels, Nicki Minaj was reportedly arrested on Saturday (May 25) in Amsterdam for drug possession, an odd development considering the Netherlands’ marijuana laws. However, it seems like authorities failed to properly inform her of her own situation, as she took to Instagram Live to document authorities searching her bags and her argument with Dutch police. The Trinidadian superstar has also updated the situation via Twitter, relaying that they made her miss her flight to Manchester and that this is all allegedly a ploy to inspire negative stories about her. Needless to say, it’s all a very complex and unclear situation as of writing this article.

Nevertheless, we hope for the best for Nicki Minaj amid this stressful time, and hope that she continues her trek safely and without further interruption. After all, it seems odd that this would happen in Amsterdam, especially when many other shows on the Pink Friday 2 tour took place without a hiccup. Regardless, she’s got a second North American leg coming up, which obviously prompted a very excited response from the Barbz and fans who didn’t get a chance to catch the first one. Sadly, this news dampens that hype a little bit, as listeners now fear that the “FTCU” MC will face more scrutiny moving forward.

Read More: Megan Thee Stallion Invites Natalie Nunn On Stage Just A Few Months After Nicki Minaj Beef

However, the Pink Friday 2 world tour has been wildly successful thus far, and not even this situation seems to have slowed it down one bit. As such, we can probably expect some more amazing shows moving forward, as long as Nicki Minaj is able to resolve this and law enforcement cooperates accordingly. Hopefully we get some more clarification on what exactly happened here soon, as fans are demanding answers online. Especially for die-hards in Manchester, they are watching the clock and hoping for the best outcome.

Meanwhile, Nicki Minaj also found herself in the headlines recently for other reasons that she would probably dismiss as purely salacious. Jaguar Wright recently claimed during an interview that Nicki was the one who leaked the alleged audio of Diddy and Meek Mill. Her past relationship with Meek continues to inform and provide context for their careers, albeit in an ugly way now. We’ll see what else happens with this Amsterdam case, and how else Roman navigates her status in the rap game.

Read More: Nicki Minaj Side-Eyes AI Cover Of “Super Bass” Online

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Cercle’s Takeover Of The W Amsterdam Combined Music, Tech, Food, And Fun In The Most Stylish Possible Way

W Amsterdam Collage
UPROXX

A great experience, like a great meal, starts with basic ingredients. The preparation and presentation are what turn the raw materials into fine dining or, in the case of my most recent trip, fine dancing. From Oct 18-21st, The W Hotel Amsterdam took their on-the-pulse sense of style, partnered with the fast-growing French production company Cercle, and flung their doors open to all the flavors of the Amsterdam Dance Event — a week-long, city-wide celebration of EDM, drawing big name artists and industry insiders from across the globe.

The result was a metaphorically Michelin-worthy week of programming and parties. A far cry from the glorious chaos of Burning Man only a month prior, this week was curated to a T.

The undeniable success of the event started with aesthetics — something the W brand has hung its hat on since they popped onto the scene and virtually created the playbook for modern luxury hotels. Located in the very center of the city, the Amsterdam W boasts a two-building complex that pairs together perfectly. On one side, the “Bank Building” features a more classic European exterior and a series of suites that blend old-world charm with just the right touch of modern flair. Across the narrow red brick road, the “Exchange Building” leans into a clean, minimalist motif with modern art touches around every corner.

This was my home for the week. Not a bad base for some revelry.

W Amsterdam
W Hotels

Upon arrival, I found all the essentials for a week of partying laid on my bed — a sleek black reusable water bottle, high-quality earplugs designed for the dance floor, a scented candle for the comedown, and even a coconut milk face mask for recharging. Sitting on the desk I found a fresh fruit tart with a happy birthday message drizzled in dark chocolate. (My actual b-day was Monday. I arrived on Wed… Three cheers for celebrating the full birthday week!)

As I made my way up to the roof to meet one of my liaisons for the week, I walked through Mr. Porter, a five-star steak house that opens up with a glass-walled, dry aging meat locker that looks more like a high-end retail display window than a pantry. I’ve been vegan for seven years now so I didn’t get to make the most of this meat lover’s menagerie; however, throughout the week I heard multiple people raving about their menu. If you’re partial to a steak dinner, consider this a must while visiting. The restaurant features 180 degrees worth of floor-to-ceiling windows that give patrons a beautiful view of the city, including the Royal Palace, literally next door. The space encompasses half of the top floor of the hotel, the other half is the W lounge and bar which boasts equally stunning panoramic views and that with the help of an incredible production team, was transformed into a full on club every night. This is where we danced to a highly curated roster of DJs from around the world. More on that in a bit.

A few floors beneath the bar and restaurant, the team at Cercle had transformed the “Great Room” into a livestream production studio that hosted daily panel discussions and workshops. With topics such as “Clarity in Chaos: Mental Health Within the Electronic Music Ecosystem” the speakers kept a packed room leaning forward in their seats. Possibly the most attended of the talks was “The Art of Exponential Growth: Capturing an Audience” featuring the fast-rising star DJs Mochakk & Indira Paganotto. Young, fun, and ruthlessly authentic, they gave the crowd the best social media advice that anyone could possibly offer — “there is no formula, just be yourself and let the world in”

ADE - Indira Paganotto & Mochakk
Cercle

For more hands-on how-tos, Cercle created two exclusive experiential workshops that were both edifying and engaging. First, they invited two of their premier drone pilots to teach a class on flying FPV (first person view) drones. If you’ve never watched a Cercle video, do so here. Their niche is creating one-off live events in magically unique destinations across the globe. Their drone work is a key element to each of their video presentations, giving a sense of space and wonder to each hand-picked location. Now it was our turn to see just how much skill it takes to pull off those epic shots.

We started the class with a brief talk, then were quickly let loose to start our training in a simulator lab they’d built. Within an hour, they gave us the actual controls and we all got to fly a real drone in a controlled setting. Yes, I crashed. We all did. But by the end I truly got the feel for it and was buzzing around faster and faster, earning the title of “most aggressive” new pilot of the day.

What can I say? I like to play hard.

Aryeh-Or Flying FPV Drones
Aryeh-Or

On the flip side, the second exclusive workshop was a refined cooking class and beat pairing aptly dubbed “Kitchn’ Klub.” The Cercle team might as well have reconstructed a Top Chef set for us, I couldn’t tell you the difference. Well, I suppose the fact that we didn’t work with any open flame helped mitigate the inherent liability factor.

Still, the knives were sharp, the beats were banging and the menu was sublime. Belgian Chef Paul Delrez and DJ Calao (a solid chef in her own right!) led us through two courses of fresh and healthy recovery food. First, we made a hearty labneh and lentil salad with a hot harissa kicker that definitely cleared the nostrils. We followed this with a shot of fresh-pressed green juice and finished out with a citrus and fennel-topped hummus plate that I would have gladly ordered on repeat if room service offered it. The whole experience flew by in a short 45 minutes but it was the perfect light menu for those of us who’d been burning the candle at both ends and making the most of the nightlife.

Kitchen Klub at ADE
Aryeh-Or

Speaking of the night, the lights and the Cercle x W dance floor were not to be trifled with. Cercle’s artistic director Phil Tuchmann and global music director for the W brand, LP Giobbi handpicked a lineup of DJs and artists that absolutely electrified the crowd. With a female-forward roster that definitely highlighted its share of male artists too, the musical offerings spanned a diverse blend of styles that kept us all on our toes, both literally and figuratively.

While all of the talent deserves their flowers, a few of my personal favorites included Francis Mercier, AWAN, Desire, Cassian, Gordo, Mind Against, and Friend of Uproxx LP Giobbi herself. Mind you, ADE is a massive playground of over 2,500+ artists, two hundred + venues that quite literally take the whole city of Amsterdam by storm for a full five days of non-stop EDM action. To collect and consolidate the caliber and consistency of talent that the W held for four straight nights felt like nothing short of wizardry.

Desiree at W Amsterdam
Cercle

Jumping out beyond the W-alls, the city of Amsterdam herself deserves an entirely separate article. This was my first visit to the famed land of winding canals and cannabis cafes and she certainly didn’t disappoint. I only had a limited time to explore amidst the ADE programming and some significant precipitation, but what I did get to experience enchanted me.

On my first full morning, I did my favorite “new city” ritual — laced up my running shoes and walked out the door without any planned direction or destination. I just went and let my instincts take me on a tour. I wound my way past the palatial facade of the Centraal train station and through the fabled Red Light district. I sprinted along riverfronts and slowed my pace through zig-zagging alleys with buildings quite literally leaning in over me (their foundations have shifted due to the soaked ground below). Every block I passed seemed to have its own unique blend of Old World energy melding with modern adaptations.

In my limited experience, the whole of Amsterdam is like a patchwork quilt. There is no particular pattern that I can point to, but it feels fundamentally warm and well balanced as if stitched together by the coolest grandma you’ve ever known. Although I think the word “charming” can often verge on pejorative and is way overused in travel writing, Amsterdam is charming in the “warts and all” sense — you see the upsides and downsides pretty quickly but you love it just the same.

As those of us who travel often know well, sometimes you visit a place and feel totally complete, like it’s been checked off the list and requires no further exploration. Other places leave you with the entirely opposite feeling; a deep knowing that you’ve only just scratched the surface and a return trip is not only warranted, it’s mandatory. In the case of Amsterdam and even more specifically ADE, I’m all the way in the latter category. I’ll definitely be heading back for a second serving of both — hopefully with another W x Cercle collab waiting for me.

Lizzo Praised Amsterdam’s Banana Sex Show In Resurfaced Interview

Lizzo spoke about her excitement for the now-infamous banana sex show in Amsterdam’s Red Light District during a 2019 interview with local radio DJ, Frank van der Lende. The live sex show is at the center of a lawsuit that three former dancers for the singer filed against her on Tuesday.

During her resurfaced interview, Lizzo expressed her desire to attend the banana sex show. “That’s what I want to do,” she said. “I need my potassium if you know what I’m saying. My puss-tassium.” The place she is referring to is “Bananenbar,” where patrons reportedly eat bananas out of sex performers’ vaginas. The spot is directly referenced in the aforementioned ongoing lawsuit.

Read More: Lizzo Sued For Sexual Harassment & Hostile Work Environment By Former Dancers

Lizzo In Concert

SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA – NOVEMBER 12: Lizzo performs in support of her “Special” release at Chase Center on November 12, 2022 in San Francisco, California. (Photo by Tim Mosenfelder/Getty Images)

The three dancers claim that Lizzo brought them there while in Amsterdam in February 2023 for a tour stop. They say she pressured them to interact with the sex performers. The lawsuit specifically states that Lizzo encouraged the dancers to “catch dildos launched from the performers’ vaginas and eat bananas protruding from the performers’ vaginas.” It adds: “Plaintiffs were aghast with how little regard Lizzo showed for the bodily autonomy of her employees and those around her, especially in the presence of many people whom she employed.”

The dancers’ lawyer, Ron Zambrano, said in a statement: “The stunning nature of how Lizzo and her management team treated their performers seems to go against everything Lizzo stands for publicly, while privately she weight-shames her dancers and demeans them in ways that are not only illegal but absolutely demoralizing.”

Multiple celebrities have come forward to address the allegations made against Lizzo. Among them is filmmaker Sophia Nahli Allison, who revealed she dropped out of working with the singer on a documentary in 2019, while describing her as “arrogant, self-centered, and unkind.” Be on the lookout for further updates on the case on HotNewHipHop.

Read More: Sophia Nahli Allison Slams Lizzo As “Arrogant, Self-Centered, & Unkind”

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Beyonce Honors Black Designers For Juneteenth, Fans React

Beyonce is easily one of the biggest artists in the entire world. Overall, she is one of the best-selling artists of our generation. Moreover, she has won a whole slew of Grammys, and she continues to rack up accolades. Now, she is currently on the RENAISSANCE WORLD TOUR which is currently overseas. Over the weekend, Beyonce did two shows in Amsterdam which is located in the Netherlands. Both of these shows were immense as she showed off a plethora of incredible outfits that had social media very excited.

As it turns out, every single one of these outfits was from black designers. Unfortunately, black designers have been under-represented in the fashion industry for a very long time. However, Beyonce and others are trying to make sure that this is no longer the case. The megastar even took to Instagram last night, where she subsequently revealed that her collaborations with black designers were for Juneteenth. Juneteenth takes place today, and Beyonce wanted to take the occasion to celebrate black fashion and design.

Read More: Beyonce Fan Auctions Off “Renaissance” Tour Sunglasses For £15K

Beyonce Takes To Amsterdam

“In honor of Juneteenth, everything I wore for RENAISSANCE WORLD TOUR tonight was created exclusively by Black designers,” she wrote on the social media platform. Although this was an amazing idea, Beyonce is catching some flack for it. This is due to the fact that she didn’t tag the designers in the post. While the outfits are incredible, her fans still don’t know who designed these garments. “But I’m confused why you didn’t write the designers or at least tag them, our social media manager is not doing their due diligence with this one queen,” one person wrote. “Why aren’t they tagged?” asked another.

Hopefully, the artist revises her post and gives these designers their proper shoutouts. After all, Beyonce looked amazing, and a lot of it had to do with these stunning fashion pieces. Let us know what you thought of the looks, down below. Additionally, stay tuned to HNHH for more news from around the music world.

Read More: Tina Knowles Takes To Instagram To Gas Up Beyonce

The post Beyonce Honors Black Designers For Juneteenth, Fans React appeared first on HotNewHipHop.