Rapper cites man’s death to cancel show at The Ranch

California-based rapper The Game has cancelled his scheduled January performance at The Ranch Roadhouse after hearing about a 20-year-old man who was kicked out of the nightclub one night last month and found dead in the area two days later.

The rapper took to Instagram on Sunday to say he has received “countless” direct messages from fans in Edmonton about the incident and has cancelled the Jan. 16 performance to show his support.

“I stand in full support of my Edmonton fans and their petition and here as stated above, forfeit the money that was given and hereby withdraw myself from my performance at that venue,” the 39-year-old rapper wrote in the post. “I made my decision without talking to my team which I will do this morning in hopes to secure another venue for the Edmonton show.”

Mohamed Abdi — known as Mo to family and friends — was asked to leave the south-side bar Nov. 16. Staff ensured he was in the hands of a capable friend, bar owner Jesse Kupina said following the incident.

“Even with our efforts, this tragedy still happened. I am sorry. We are actively reviewing if there is more we could have done,” Kupina said in a statement Nov. 20.

Abdi’s body was found Nov. 18 in the area of 103 Street and 63 Avenue after police responded to a report of a sudden death.

The case was deemed “non-suspicious” and police ended their investigation.

Alberta Gaming, Liquor and Cannabis opened an investigation into the matter. No sanction decisions have been posted on the commission’s website in response to the investigation.

An online petition emerged following Abdi’s death accusing the bar of negligence, and a protest was held outside the bar.

Officials with the City of Edmonton’s public safety compliance branch have been in touch with venue operators.

“The city is aware of the petition and saddened to hear of Mr. Abdi’s death,” read a statement from the city, which added that its safety team is “meeting with the venue to review its patron management and control plans.”

It said the team — which monitors nightclubs and includes city staff, police, fire and AGLC officials — has “conducted several inspections over the years at this venue and found no issues during those inspections.”

Tickets for The Game’s show were selling quickly, according to the nightclub’s Facebook page, with the front and centre bottle service tables costing $2,400 already sold out.

A spokesperson for The Ranch Roadhouse could not be reached for comment Sunday.