Drake confirms he was ‘detained’ by police in Sweden after denying he had been arrested on drug charges
THE Swedes are famously mild-mannered but rapper Drake still managed to get himself in a spot of bother during a recent trip.
The Canadian was “detained” in the Scandinavian country last week for alleged drug charges days after denying any wrongdoing.
He posted a picture on his Instagram page of a document handed to him by Swedish cops confirming he had been detained, which contradicts claims by his reps that widespread rumours of a nightclub bust-up were false.
It’s still unclear whether or not Drake will have to return to the country to face charges, but there is cause for concern.
A$AP Rocky spent a month behind bars after a brawl there, so Swedish authorities have form for caging high-profile rappers.
A music source said: “It’s all quite confusing but it appears Drake is being treated more leniently.
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“Nobody quite knows why Drake’s reps denied the story, only for him to come out days later and speak to the truth.
“But he appears very relaxed about the whole thing, which suggests jail time won’t be on the horizon.”
Drake sparked speculation of a run-in with Swedish cops last week inside a Stockholm nightclub.
The rumours became so intense — buoyed by his fans starting a #FreeDrake campaign on social media — that his reps were forced to step in, saying their man was currently in his hotel in Stockholm and had not been arrested.
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It’s still unclear whether he was in Sweden to record music or for personal reasons.
But as part of an Instagram post documenting his Euro jaunt, which also took in Ibiza, he posted the document confirming his run-in with cops — the title reading “Information for Those Suspected of a Crime and Subsequently Detained”.
It explains Drake’s rights under Swedish law.
It also notes Drake can “receive the aid of an attorney who under certain conditions can be paid for by the state” and that he can “receive the assistance of an interpreter during interrogation.”
Significantly, there was no confirmation Drake would need to make a future court appearance or return for further police questioning.
Sweden might be missing from the countries on his next European tour.
He’ll just have to get his next meatball fix inside his local Ikea.
CAUGHT LIVE
MABEL @ Somerset House, central London
Howell Davies
★★★★☆
HER week got off to a good start with second album About Last Night leading the race to No1 – but Mabel's latest concert proved there is even more promise for her as a superstar.
Over the five years since breakthrough single Finders Keepers, she has racked up six Top Ten hits and released plenty of other belting tracks.
But on stage there is a new-found confidence to help take her career to the next level.
She opened with last year’s strut-worthy floor filler Let Them Know, complete with choreography and a fleet of backing dancers, then kept the energy up with 2019’s Fine Line.
Her time to truly shine came when she delivered a three-track acoustic segment featuring Trouble and recent single Overthinking.
Then there was a moment of honesty while introducing OK (Anxiety Anthem).
Although she managed to finish the song, Mabel admitted: “I think I have a 100 per cent track record of never being able to get this all the way through without crying.”
Her biggest single to date, Don’t Call Me Up, showed off her true pop star capabilities.
It’s clear Mabel is back with her A-game.
ELLIE: I’M STILL KEEN ON GREEN
SHE has spent years campaigning over climate change and eco-friendly measures, but it won’t stop Ellie Goulding jetting around the world on tour.
The Love Me Like You Do singer said she would “rather be a hypocrite than a cynic” about the climate crisis, and will focus her efforts on raising awareness and pushing corporations to change their ways.
She explained: “I know that flying long- distance is bad, it’s hard.
"I think I’d rather be a hypocrite than a cynic with this stuff.
“I use every single possible way that I have in my job to draw attention to these things and to make small changes in my own life and I encourage my fans to do the same thing. I’m always going to have to fly a bit because that is part of my job.
“But if I can find alternatives then I bloody well will.
“Unfortunately we don’t have that at the moment.
"There are a certain amount of corporations in this world that are responsible for a huge amount of global emissions so I think pushing them to do more also helps.”
Ellie, who has just returned with her new single Easy Lover, added during a discussion on the radio in Australia: “It’s my job. It’s not just a fun thing I do as a hobby.
“It’s my livelihood and it’s the thing that keeps me going.
“Sometimes I have to fly. I hate flying but sometimes it’s necessary.”
GAGA’S TOUR DE FORCE
IT’S been four years since her last headline tour but Lady Gaga hasn’t lost her mojo.
She put in a dramatic performance as she kicked off her Chromatica Ball stadium tour in Dusseldorf, Germany, on Sunday night, where she had a series of costume changes.
At one point she danced around in a gore-inspired top, black leather gloves and spiked choker, while other wacky looks included a gold Alexander McQueen design, leather jacket and a futuristic robot get-up.
Gaga, who was supported by her charity executive boyfriend Michael Polansky from the crowd, kicked off the show with hits Bad Romance, Just Dance and Poker Face but also performed seven songs for the first time including Sour Candy and Babylon.
She brings the tour to the UK next week with two shows at London’s Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, with tickets still on sale.
Despite suffering with fibromyalgia, she told fans in an Instagram Live before the show that she is back on top form.
She said: “I feel more clear than I have in a long time and more pain-free than I have in ages.”
Bizbit
THERE won’t be any more glimpses of Margot Robbie as Barbie for a while as she has completed filming for the movie.
The crew enjoyed a wrap party at the weekend, with the film due out here next July.
WICKED NEWS, ARIANA
SHOOTING for the two new Wicked films doesn’t begin until November but lead star Ariana Grande is already in the UK and raring to go.
She has flown over with husband Dalton Gomez and last week they enjoyed a mini-break in the Cotswolds together.
But the Positions singer has a reason to be here so early, as there will be three months of rehearsals before cameras start rolling.
She will be based in the south of England for much of the next 12 months, as the films are being made at the new state-of-the-art Sky Studios in Elstree, Herts.
Ariana, who will play the good witch Glinda, has already started work towards the film, although rehearsals with co-star Cynthia Erivo won’t begin until next month.
In the meantime, Cynthia – who is taking on the role of Elphaba – is flying to Hawaii for a holiday.
The shoot is expected to last up to a year, so fans still have a long wait to see either of the movies.
The first part is not due to be released until Christmas Day 2024.
That is a full 21 years after the musical’s Broadway debut
A SIGN OF THE ’TINES
THE LIBERTINES were big news two decades ago but they aren’t proving so popular these days, as they are struggling to sell tickets to their latest tour.
The group will perform at Wembley Arena on Saturday but tickets are now being offered to some fans at half-price because hundreds have gone unsold.
The band are playing live for the 20th anniversary of debut album Up The Bracket, which will be performed in full.
But it’s not only in London where that prospect is proving unattractive, despite a well-reviewed set at Glastonbury last month.
Their concert in Cardiff has been downgraded to a smaller venue and there are still tickets available for another show in Edinburgh next month.
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With the cost-of- living crisis and an influx of rival concert tours after two years of Covid, it’s no wonder some acts are struggling to flog tickets.
But I hope things pick up soon because there’s nothing better than a good gig.