US rapper, Lil Wayne denied entry into UK

Rapper Lil Wayne will no longer perform at a British music festival this weekend after he was declined entry into the United Kingdom, organizers have said.

The five-time Grammy Award winner, who was sentenced to one year in jail in 2010 relating to a gun possession charge, was scheduled to take to the stage at the Strawberries & Creem festival on Saturday.

Ludacris will now perform instead.

“Due to extreme circumstances beyond our control or influence, we are very sorry to inform you that Lil Wayne is now unable to perform at the festival on Saturday 18th June,” festival organisers said in a statement on Wednesday.

“Lil Wayne has been refused entry to the U.K… We are deeply disappointed by this sudden and negative ruling. We have received very minimal notice, and the timing of the decision is of course upsetting for all involved.”

Lil Wayne’s performance would have been his first in the U.K. in 14 years, according to the festival.