Cardi B is apologizing to her Jamaican fans after pulling out of a highly anticipated concert, but she wants everyone to understand that she did everything she could to make the performance happen.
Video
In an emotional video shared Friday, October 9, the rapper addressed her sudden withdrawal from BZR WKND Jamaica, just days before she was scheduled to headline the festival at Kingston’s National Stadium.
Cardi explained that she initially hoped her representatives’ announcement would be enough, but growing speculation pushed her to speak directly to disappointed supporters.
“First things first, I want to really, really apologise to Jamaica and to my Jamaican fans,” she said.
“The reason why I cancelled so late is because when I say I tried my best and I waited and I waited and I waited for things to get in place and together, but it didn’t.”
The Cardi B cancellation was officially confirmed Thursday, October 8, just 10 days before her October 18 performance.
In a statement obtained by Billboard, her representatives announced, “Cardi B will not be performing at BZR WKND Jamaica on October 18, 2026.”
Her team did not provide a specific reason for the withdrawal. Instead, representatives expressed appreciation for Jamaican supporters and directed questions regarding tickets and the festival’s status to event organizers.
However, Cardi offered additional insight in her video, suggesting unresolved arrangements contributed to her decision.
One rumor she immediately rejected involved ticket sales.
“For the haters, not the Jamaicans, but for the haters talking about due to low ticket sales, it was never that because I heard there was over 18,000 tickets sold,” Cardi stated.
She emphasized her international drawing power and claimed fans from several Caribbean countries, including The Bahamas, the Dominican Republic, and St. Lucia, were planning to attend.
Still, the reported figure of more than 18,000 tickets has not been independently verified. Cardi specifically described it as a number she had heard.
While addressing what prevented her from performing, Cardi suggested contractual restrictions were keeping her from publicly explaining everything.
“I can’t talk. I can’t talk…contracts, but just know it wasn’t me. Just know,” she said, according to the Jamaica Observer.
Her comments have raised questions about what happened behind the scenes, although no specific contractual dispute or breach has been publicly established.
The cancellation also disrupted Cardi’s personal plans. She explained that she intended to celebrate her birthday weekend and extend her Jamaica visit into a vacation with friends and family.
She told supporters that she still hopes to perform on the island someday, stressing that the situation was beyond her control.
Meanwhile, the Cardi B cancellation has sparked another controversy involving fans who already spent money to attend.
According to the Jamaica Observer, disappointed concertgoers began demanding answers about ticket refunds, travel expenses, and whether organizers would announce another headliner.
“Mi want back me money,” one frustrated patron wrote online.
Another questioned who would reimburse fans who had already purchased flights and concert tickets.
Adding to the frustration, the festival’s official Tikkets refund policy states that ticket purchases are final and generally nonrefundable. Its terms also include provisions covering certain event cancellations caused by circumstances beyond organizers’ control.
However, that policy does not necessarily settle every possible consumer claim.
Jamaican attorney Guyah Tolan addressed the controversy on TikTok, explaining that a no-refund disclaimer does not automatically eliminate protections available under Jamaican law.
@guyahtolan You bought a ticket to see Cardi B who just cancelled her performance in 🇯🇲? This is for you. 👩🏽⚖️ 📞 (876) 627-6194 📧 [email protected] 🌐 guyahtolan.com ◻️◼️◻️ Disclaimer: The information shared on this page is for general informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. #guyahtolan #legalJamaica #lawyersJamaica #CardiB ♬ original sound – Guyah Tolan & Associates
According to World Music Views, Tolan pointed to Jamaica’s Consumer Protection Act and questioned how the removal of an advertised headliner could affect ticket buyers.
“If the headliner was the major reason you purchased a ticket in the first place, their withdrawal could be a material change to what was advertised,” she explained.
Still, whether individual customers qualify for refunds depends on the circumstances and applicable ticketing terms.
Another concern is that the official ticketing page continued advertising Cardi B and offering tickets for the event on Friday, despite her confirmed withdrawal.
The festival was also promoted with Keyshia Cole, Spice, and several Jamaican performers. However, organizers had not publicly confirmed a replacement headliner or a refund arrangement, according to local reporting.
For now, Cardi has made her position clear. She says low ticket sales were not responsible, insists she tried repeatedly to save the performance, and maintains that circumstances beyond her control forced the decision.
But while the rapper has offered an apology, fans who invested in seeing her perform are still waiting for the answers that matter most: what happens to the concert, and what happens to their money?
