Ice Spice has apologized after her set at Wildlands Festival in Brisbane, Australia, was cut to just five minutes.
The 25-year-old rapper played the festival in three different Australian locations — Brisbane, Perth and Adelaide — but her New Year’s Eve set was a disaster after her microphone was cut off at the start of her third song due to the festival’s strict curfew. Festival performances typically require artists to adhere to strict scheduling to maintain event flow and safety protocols.
Ice Spice was 25 minutes late
Ice Spice was due onstage at 10:30 pm for a 30-minute set, but she didn’t end up coming out until 10:55 pm, according to reports. Late starts at major festivals can cost organizers significant penalties due to local noise ordinances and venue regulations.
She managed to perform “Deli,” “Princess Diana,” and part of “In Ha Mood.” These songs represent her biggest hits, with “Princess Diana” achieving platinum status in multiple countries.
“I’m sorry guys, surely y’all can forgive me,” Ice Spice said, addressing her lateness during her set at the Perth edition on Saturday, Jan. 4. The Perth show drew an estimated crowd of 20,000 fans.
“It was my birthday, and it takes a long time to look like a Barbie,” she quipped, referring to her Nicki Minaj collaboration “Barbie World.” The song, released in 2023, has accumulated more than 500 million streams globally.
The festival’s organizers explained that they needed to stick to timings to ensure they could lead the countdown to the New Year and wrap the event at 12:30 am. Major festivals often face substantial fines for breaking curfew restrictions.
“We understand that Ice Spice’s delayed arrival caused some disappointment,” Wildlands said in a comment posted to Instagram after facing a backlash from disgruntled festival-goers. “Managing a stacked festival means that we have to be extremely firm with set times. We had a strict curfew of 12:30 and need to ensure that the final act went on stage on time, so everyone could enjoy the New Year’s Eve countdown.”
Crowd groans after long wait
“At 11:01 pm – they gave her an extra minute – they cut the mic and you heard the collective sigh from the crowd. They’d been waiting for a while and they get two songs?” journalist Brenton Larney, who was in attendance, told The Guardian. “It was just really disrespectful how she walked off, she was laughing, they tried to give her flowers for her birthday and she just shrugged them off.”
The incident has sparked discussions about artist professionalism and festival management, with industry experts weighing in on the importance of punctuality at large-scale events. Festival organizers typically build strict schedules around multiple factors including security requirements, staff shifts, and public transportation schedules.
This marks the latest in a series of festival controversies involving high-profile artists arriving late to performances. Similar incidents have led to policy changes at major festivals worldwide, with some implementing financial penalties for tardiness.
The Wildlands Festival, now in its fifth year, has grown to become one of Australia’s premier music events, attracting over 50,000 attendees across its multiple locations. The festival features a mix of international and local artists across various genres.
Ice Spice’s rapid rise to fame since her 2022 breakthrough has made her one of hip-hop’s most sought-after performers, with her shows typically selling out within minutes. Her festival appearances command significant fees, with industry sources estimating her performance rates in the six-figure range.
The aftermath of the Brisbane incident has led to increased scrutiny of artist contracts and festival management practices, with some industry insiders calling for stricter enforcement of performance schedules. Several ticket holders have taken to social media demanding partial refunds, though festival policies typically do not cover shortened sets due to artist tardiness.
