Cardi B Trades Public Blows With BZR WKND Jamaica Promoter Over Cancelled Set

Cardi B has criticised the promoter of BZR WKND Jamaica 2026 on Instagram Live, after he said he would sue her over her cancelled headlining set. The rapper made the comments on Nov. 10, according to Billboard.

The row centres on a $2.5 million performance fee and who owes what. Promoter Ryan Burke told Jamaica's CVM News that Cardi B was paid the full amount and is refusing to return it. A representative for the rapper told Billboard that she was not paid in full. In that account, the organisers failed to meet their payment obligations, a "material breach", meaning a serious failure of contract terms that allows the other side to end the deal. That failure, the representative said, led to the cancellation.

BZR WKND gave Billboard a different version. The company said it made every agreed payment in full, directly to Cardi B, and that the Jamaican government had no role in covering the remaining balance. It also said that after the initial deposit was paid, the rapper did not deliver the promotional support her contract required, including an official announcement video. The company says it is taking steps to pursue legal action over the cancellation.

Cardi B pulled out of the festival on Oct. 8. The event was originally scheduled for Oct. 16 to 19. It has since been condensed into two days, Dec. 19 and 20.

Festival bookings often work in stages. A deposit is an upfront payment that secures a performer's date, and the balance is usually paid closer to the show. That structure is one reason disputes like this can turn on which payments were made, when, and to whom.

Who is right about the money has not been settled, and the promoter's threatened lawsuit has not yet been decided. For anyone who bought tickets or planned a trip around the original dates, the new December schedule is the one to check.