Lil Baby
Courtesy of artist
Crowds at Vancouver's Breakout Festival caused thousands of dollars worth of damage after it was announced that headliner Lil Baby would not be performing, Global and CTV reports.
Lil Baby was due to headline the Sunday night (September 18) of the two-day event at Vancouver's Pacific National Exhibition Amphitheatre but pulled out at the last minute, with organizers stating that the rapper was "too sick" to take to the stage. Partial refunds were offered to attendees. "We know you were looking forward to seeing him but these circumstances are beyond our control," the Breakout statement said.
Bruhh, Vancouver kids stupid as shit 😂 imagine causing a riot all because Lil Baby no showed Breakout Fest pic.twitter.com/wmQlSHweiL
— Seven Costanza (@Raavxhimself) September 19, 2022
Scenes at breakout festival pne Vancouver after headliners Lil Baby, Polo G and Lil Uzi Vert cancel. pic.twitter.com/R4S7w4olC0
— matt (@mc1040597) September 19, 2022
Videos posted online show festival goers pulling down tents, garbage cans being overturned, as well as tables and fridges being thrown across the site. Another video shows the crowd booing as it is announced that Lil Baby would not be appearing as planned. Vancouver police confirmed to CTV that they made seven arrests and that, while there were no major injuries, there is "likely thousands of dollars in property damage."
"Vancouver police officers were already inside the venue and providing extra security when several hundred people began fighting and destroying property in the Amphitheatre on the PNE grounds, and in the surrounding neighbourhood," said Const. Tania Visintin said in a statement released on Monday. "Dozens of extra officers were redeployed from other areas of the city to restore order, with some officers having bottles and other objects thrown at them."
A statement from festival organizers, also shared on Monday, says "We do not condone violence or destruction of property and are utterly disappointed with the way some of our patrons acted at this year's event.
Lil Baby was not the only artist to pull out of Breakout. Lil Uzi Vert also failed to appear, with "unforeseen circumstances" blamed for his absence while Polo G and Sofaygo also canceled.
The FADER has reached out to a representative of the festival for comment.
