Topline
Jay-Z’s concert at Yankee Stadium in New York was delayed by several hours on Sunday night following a reported security breach that led to a lockdown, prompting the billionaire rapper to take the stage after midnight and apologize to fans, saying he was concerned about people getting trampled.
Key Facts
Sunday’s event was the last of Jay-Z’s three nights of concerts in New York and its start was delayed by more than four hours, according to local news outlet ABC7 Eyewitness News.
Citing an unnamed police source, the ABC News affiliate reported that a “large group” of people allegedly breached security and shoved their way through various checkpoints, prompting authorities to initiate a lockdown.
The show was scheduled to start at 8 p.m. ET, and doors opened at 6 p.m., but the lockdown meant no one was allowed to enter or leave the venue for several hours.
The rapper eventually took the stage after midnight as security allowed fans to trickle in and apologized for the delay.
Explaining the delay, Jay-Z said there were “like 10,000 people outside” when the doors were shut and he didn’t want to start before everyone entered to avoid a stampede-like situation.
Crucial Quote
According to the Hollywood Reporter, the rapper said, “They closed the door for you guys’ safety and everyone’s safety outside. There’s 10,000 people outside; I don’t want to start the music and people get trampled. I’m really sorry for the inconvenience, but I had to make sure everyone was OK. I appreciate your patience.”
What Happened After the concert started?
Despite the major delay, the final night was a star-studded one, featuring guest appearances by Beyoncé, Rihanna, Usher, Teyana Taylor, Jermaine Dupri, Pharrell Williams, Fat Joe, Jeezy, Pusha T, and Jadakiss.
Forbes Valuation
According to Forbes’ estimates, Jay-Z has a net worth of $2.8 billion as of Monday morning. This makes him the richest musician in the world, ahead of Taylor Swift, who has an estimated net worth of $2 billion.