‘I can’t perform where they’re shooting guns’ — Portable hits show promoters in Italy

Portable, the Nigerian singer, has narrated his ordeal with some show promoters in Italy.

The controversial singer had been out of Nigeria for his European tour.

In a lengthy statement via his Instagram handle, Portable said he was to perform in Padova on October 29 but a series of unfortunate events including “sloppy promoters and violence” prevented his stage appearance.

The ‘Zazoo Zeh’ crooner said he was lodged in a hotel situated several kilometres away from the concert venue.

He also said he had sought a closer hotel but the promoters claimed they had no money to pay for it.

The singer said, when he eventually arrived at the concert place, his associates warned him to keep off as they had been arson, shootings, and stabbing in the scenery.

“I am not following you to where they are shooting guns and breaking bottles,” he said in a now-viral video.

You brought me to perform where they are shooting instead of where they are spraying money, Portable lambast show promoter in italy.#snapchat wizkid Davido Burna Boy Grammy #asake Sir Wizkid 30bg #Wizkidfc #BurnaBoy pic.twitter.com/arveuZPFFH

— APOSTLE☦️ (@thepaulous) October 31, 2022

In the statement, he also said on alighting in what he thought was a safe zone, some thugs attacked his entourage and carted away £2000.

“I warned every Nigerian artiste to abstain from any so-called Nigerian Italy-based promoters. They are empty,” the singer said.

This isn’t the first time a Nigerian artiste would be in conflict with an Italian promoter.

In May, Davido called out a “fraudulent” Italian show promoter who he claimed refused to pay up his debt.

Read Portable’s full statement below:

“But the Padova Promoters turned out to be inexperienced, inadequate, unprofessional, unscrupulous, and disreputable.

“On that faithful Saturday 29th October 2022, I arrived from Dusseldorf Germany alongside my team at 16:20 at Venice airport (Marco Polo Italy ) and waited for over two hours before the so-called promoters came.

“(Blessed entertainment and Alex Jeffizy) they couldn’t even pay the taxi guy the full fares not until my manager paid off the fares.

“On getting to the hotel, we discovered that the hotel was located in Vigonovese when the event location was in Padova. You can Google map the distance. And also, the room reserved was one instead of two rooms.

“My manager rejected and Alex Jeffizy began to cry that he has no money with him but pleaded we should kindly manage the room. My manager found another hotel that was closer to the venue of the event but they refused.

“Up to 50% not until we arrived and they said they don’t have a balance until they sell drinks till 4 am before they can balance us and I can perform by then.

“We agreed and waited not until Alex and the driver came back at 3:40 am to pick us to the venue. The driver repeatedly missed the route and we spent over. 2h 40mins on the road instead of 50mins.

“On getting closer to the venue, we discovered there had been shooting, stabbing, and arson in the venue. Even Jeffizy himself received a series of calls that we should not come to the venue because there had been a serious massacre and we should back off. No security, bodyguard, or professionalism.

“We forced the driver to stop the car before getting to the dangerous scene. They got their thugs around the corner, collected the car key, and demanded €2,000 which my manager gave to enable us to leave the unsafe scene.

“Jeffizy collected the money and Blessing Olise knows about it. Italy promoters are not real promoters but scammers and lame people.

“Prostitute ladies claiming to be promoters and uncivilized men that took a boat to Europe claiming to be a promoter. I warned every Nigerian artist to abstain from any so-called Nigerian Italy-based promoters. They are empty.”