Lil' Kim apologises to fans after Lovebox gig cancelled

Rapper Lil' Kim had been due to perform at Lovebox (Getty Images)

Lovebox organisers say they were forced to cancel Lil' Kim's appearance at the London-based festival this weekend after the singer arrived late.

But the rapper, whose publicist insisted she wasn't late for the show, has apologised to fans for her non-appearance, saying: "Things that happened were out of my control."

An official statement from Lovebox organisers said they had "no option" but to pass up Lil' Kim's slot at the Victoria Park event "to ensure the other main stage acts were not disrupted".

Lil' Kim's publicist Lizzie Grubman said she wasn't late for the show: "Kim was on-site and on time for her performance and apologises to all of her fans for the inconvenience."

This had been the American artist's only UK festival appearance this year. She has vowed to make it up to disappointed fans with "a big meet 'n' greet".