Ja Rule’s UK tour is in jeopardy (Picture: WireImage)
Rap icon Ja Rule says he has been blocked from entering the UK days before his major tour kicks off.
The musician, 47, claims he has put $500,000 (£395,500) of his own money into the tour, which will see him hit cities including London, Cardiff, Glasgow, Leeds and Liverpool.
But now the tour may not happen at all as the Fyre Festival star reveals he has been barred from entering Britain due to his criminal record.
Rule, real name Jeffrey Atkins, has previously served two years in prison in the US after pleading guilty to tax evasion and gun charges.
He took to X to share the news with fans on Tuesday, saying he was ‘devastated,’ and told ticketholders they would be refunded – even though the tour has yet to be officially cancelled.
‘I can’t believe the UK won’t let me in,’ he said, claiming he spent ‘half a million dollars’ of his own money putting the tour together ‘only to be denied entry DAYS before my shows.’
‘This is not fair to me or my fans, these venues are 85% sold and now I can’t come.’
The musician was due to play multiple dates cross the UK on his Sunrise tour (Picture: Getty Images for BMI)
He spent two years in prison for tax evasion and possession of a semi-automatic handgun (Picture: Wireimage)
He went on: ‘The UK is one of the few European countries that restricts entry to people with criminal records. In general, you will likely be denied entry if you have been convicted of a crime punishable by 23 months or more under British law or served more than 12 months in prison.’
In 2011, Rule was sentenced to 28 months in prison for failing to pay $1,100,000 (£870,540)in taxes between 2004 and 2008, and another two years for possession of a semi-automatic handgun.
He was released in May 2013 after two years behind bars.
Rule’s first show is set to kick off in Cardiff on Friday, March 1, and at the time of writing tickets to some shows – including at the M&S Bank Arena Liverpool on March 9 – are still available to buy.
Metro.co.uk has contacted Ja Rule for comment.
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