BZR WKND ticket buyers still waiting on refund weeks after organisers pledged money back

KINGSTON, Jamaica — Patrons who purchased tickets for the postponed BZR WKND Jamaica 2026 concert are expressing frustration over what they say is a lack of communication from organisers regarding promised refunds, with some threatening to take their complaints to regulatory authorities. The event, originally scheduled for October 18 and headlined by American rapper Cardi B, was postponed to December 20 following the artiste's withdrawal. Organisers subsequently advised patrons who no longer wished to attend to submit refund requests through a designated email address. READ: BZR delayed! Concert postponed to December; patrons offered refunds However, several patrons say that despite following those instructions, they have neither received their money nor been given any indication of when refunds will be processed. One disgruntled patron, who identified herself only as Shanice, said she submitted her refund request the same day of the announcement (October 13) but has received no response. “To date, I have not received any refund and no one has even acknowledged receipt of my email and sent any communication to me regarding this,” she said. Shanice said the experience has left her questioning the legitimacy of the event and calling for intervention from the relevant authorities. “I am very perturbed as to how they can get away with this and the local authorities are doing nothing to investigate it,” she said, adding that she intends to lodge a formal complaint. The frustrated patron added that the experience has shaken her confidence in supporting similar locally organised entertainment events. “I don't know how anyone can trust these people going forward and they make it really hard to trust or support any other local event or concert of this nature because I can't say I will be doing this ever again," she said. “They should all be investigated and arrested.” Another patron, who requested anonymity, shared similar concerns, claiming that attempts to recover the money spent on tickets have proven unsuccessful. “I have not gotten my refund. I feel like I am being scammed and given the run and round with no actual solution in place to remedy the incident,” the patron said. “I will not be supporting these promoters or event planners in any other endeavour.” Attorney-at-law Terri-Ann Guyah Tolan, who has been vocal about the controversy surrounding the event, has also joined the growing chorus of dissatisfied patrons. According to Guyah Tolan, she submitted her refund request within minutes of receiving the organisers' notification about the postponement but has received no acknowledgement. “Not a single acknowledgement or response. I subsequently sent a follow-up email, which has also gone unanswered,” she said. The attorney described the situation as an insult to paying patrons who had complied with the instructions issued by the organisers. “This is beyond disgraceful. It is an absolute insult to the intelligence of the paying public and a blatant display of contempt for consumers. People have spent their hard-earned money, complied with the refund instructions issued by the organisers, and have been met with nothing but deafening silence,” she said. Guyah Tolan also raised questions about the circumstances surrounding the event's promotion and the arrangements for Cardi B's scheduled appearance. “Was Cardi B ever genuinely secured to perform, or was her name used to entice unsuspecting patrons into purchasing tickets? I am beginning to question whether this was ever a legitimate undertaking or simply an elaborate scheme to collect money from the public,” she questioned. She acknowledged the seriousness of those questions but argued that the organisers' handling of the refund process had done little to allay patrons' concerns. The attorney further expressed concern that those behind the event could potentially return to the entertainment industry under different business names without being held accountable for the current controversy. “What is equally disturbing is the possibility that the individuals responsible will simply walk away from this debacle, rebrand under another company or association, and return to the public with another grand event, expecting consumers to hand over their money once again,” she said. “Corporate names and associations should not become convenient shields behind which individuals evade accountability.” Guyah Tolan said she has no intention of absorbing the financial loss and outlined several steps she intends to take to recover her money. “I will be initiating a chargeback with my bank, lodging formal complaints with the Consumer Affairs Commission and the Fair Trading Commission, and considering all available legal remedies,” she declared. “Enough is enough. Consumers deserve answers, refunds and accountability. And those responsible should not be permitted to simply reinvent themselves and carry on as though nothing happened.” The complaints represent the latest development in the controversy surrounding BZR WKND Jamaica 2026, which was initially promoted with Cardi B as its headline act. The American rapper publicly announced her withdrawal on October 8 and subsequently maintained that she was not responsible for the cancellation of her appearance. In response, the promoters insisted that they had fulfilled their financial and contractual obligations and made every effort to deliver the event as advertised. Organisers later announced that the concert would be postponed to December 20, promising an even bigger, star-studded entertainment experience. They also assured patrons that tickets purchased for the original October 18 date would remain valid for the rescheduled event, while those unable or unwilling to attend could request refunds by emailing eventsteamjamaica@kanoopays.com. At the time, organisers said further instructions regarding the refund process would be communicated through official channels. Efforts by Observer Online to contact the organisers for a comment proved futile.