Pa Salieu “removed” from Commonwealth Games closing ceremony

Pa Salieu claims that he has been removed from the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games closing ceremony after failing a background check.

This comes Pa Salieu took to social media to share footage of a rehearsal run of the show he was meant to perform during the Commonwealth Games closing ceremony, due to take place in Birmingham on Monday, August 8 at 8:PM.

The West-Midlands rapper also says that he was “removed from the show because ‘I failed a background check.'”

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Pa Salieu was cleared of engaging in violent disorder in a 2018 brawl, however, he was convicted in March for possessing a bottle as a weapon during a fight in which his friend was fatally stabbed to death in the brawl.

He has also previously admitted to a second count of violent disorder in a different brawl. Pa Salieu is still awaiting a sentence.

The statement that he posted online said, in part: “Yesterday [August 1] I received a call to say that I’m being removed from the show because I ‘failed a background check’.

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"I can’t keep being silent about this stuff. I’ve already had to cancel 90% of my shows this year because the Home Office won’t process the paperwork I need to travel abroad until my court case is finished.

“I have fully co-operated with the process. Attended court on time every single day. The trial ended in March, but they keep just moving the final sentencing date which was due to be in May. Most recently the date moved because the ‘prosecutor has gone on holiday’.

“I’ve consistently been trying to use my career to show people where I’m from that there is another life for us. One away from the roads. But what can you do if the police, the justice system and the home office don’t care about you and put everything possible in your way to stop you trying to get on with your life?”

Birmingham 2022 would not confirm to BBC whether the rapper has been removed from the closing ceremony’s bill of performers.

In a statement, organisers said: "Everyone involved in the Games goes through the same accreditation process; including our volunteers, performers, athletes, contractors, and workforce.

"We cannot comment on individual accreditation applications. This process facilitates the delivery of the Games."

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Aneesa Ahmed is Mixmag's Digital Intern, follow her on Twitter