Toronto has more Janices than Drake expected and some want another apology
When Drake announced he was throwing an apology party in Toronto exclusively for people named Janice, the internet had plenty of jokes.
Social media was full of comments wondering how many Janices would actually show up, with plenty of people joking that the event would only attract retirees.
By Sunday afternoon, it was clear there were far more Janices of all ages in Toronto than anyone seemed to expect. So many, in fact, that dozens of women with confirmed RSVPs never made it inside.
Inspired by "Janice STFU," a track from Drake's ICEMAN album, the invitation-only event promised food, drinks and "one or two surprises" for anyone legally named Janice. Guests were asked to RSVP ahead of time and bring government-issued photo ID showing their first name before being admitted.
The party was scheduled to begin at 1 p.m. on Sunday, but when I arrived at Cactus Club on Adelaide Street just after 1:30 p.m., the line was still wrapped outside. Dozens of Janices waited patiently as security worked through RSVPs and checked government-issued IDs. A Cactus Club staff member confirmed no one had been let through the doors yet, but the mood outside remained upbeat.
No one seemed particularly impatient. Instead, Janices introduced themselves to one another — which wasn't too difficult considering they all shared the same name — compared invitation emails and laughed about how they'd ended up there.
"Hi, Janice!"
Another voice would answer.
"Hey, Janice!"
The line eventually started moving, but it never really disappeared. As some Janices made it inside, new ones kept arriving. Dozens of Janices remained outside, hoping to make their way in, some having received personalized invitations.
Not everyone had been invited the same way. One attendee told me she commented on Drake's Instagram announcement, saying, "My name is Janice."
"My friend sent me the Instagram post, and I commented that my name is Janice," she said. "They sent me a DM to send them my contact information."
Another Janice showed me a personalized invitation that had arrived at her workplace by Canada Post ExpressPost before Drake had even announced the event publicly.
"I thought it was a prank," she laughed. "I almost threw it out."
She believes organizers found her through LinkedIn or another public profile.
About an hour later, Drake announced the event on social media, making her realize the invitation was real.
Ironically, despite receiving one of the event's most exclusive invitations, she never made it inside.
Updates from inside started making their way back outside. People whispered about peach bellinis, a family-style lunch and cash giveaways. Excitement rippled through the crowd when word spread that one Janice had won $5,000.
Outside, dozens of others waited, hoping every person who walked out meant another chance to finally get inside.
One attendee, Janice Macleod, told me the confusion started long before anyone was officially turned away.
About 30 minutes into the wait, she said rumours began circulating that some confirmation emails — particularly those that included a plus-one — might not be honoured. Around 15 minutes later, another update spread through the line suggesting everything had been sorted out.
By the time she reached the front, roughly an hour after arriving, Janice said her name wasn't on the list despite receiving a confirmation email. She said organizers placed her on a priority list and asked her to wait in the lobby while they tried to sort things out.
Then, by about 2:15 p.m., word had spread through the crowd that the event had reached capacity. The remaining Janices stayed put, hoping every person who walked out meant another person could finally walk in.
About 90 minutes after arriving, Macleod said organizers returned with disappointing news.
"It was a sit-down event with 150 seats, and they were all full," she said.
The remaining guests were informed that no additional Janices would be admitted.
Another Janice, who had arrived about 20 minutes before the scheduled start time with a confirmed RSVP, also waited roughly an hour and a half before being turned away.
"I got the RSVP, so I got an email back confirming that I could be here, which was amazing because I'm a big fan of Drake," she told blogTO.
I asked what she thought happened, and she shrugged.
"Maybe they could have picked a bigger venue."
Some Janices had travelled two and even three hours hoping to attend, only to be turned away.
Still, the atmosphere outside remained more amused than angry.
"Everyone was befriending each other in line," Janice Macleod said. "We were all talking about how we almost didn't want to come because you couldn't bring a friend, but we all showed up anyway."
As it became clear the remaining Janices wouldn't be getting inside, she decided to rally the crowd. A playful chorus of boos erupted before everyone delivered one collective message for Drake.
"You need to make it right!"
Macleod said she figured Drake might now have to throw another apology party to apologize for the apology party. But some of the Janices I spoke with weren't even asking for another event.
"Just come back home and say hi," one Janice laughed. "That would be enough of a second apology."
Even after they were told no more guests would be admitted, some Janices weren't ready to give up. Macleod said she watched from a nearby café as the last few women finally accepted they weren't getting in and drifted away around 3:30 p.m.
The biggest surprise wasn't that the event reached capacity. It was discovering that there were far more Janices in Toronto than anyone seemed to expect.
For a few hours, people who had spent years being the only Janice in their classroom, office or friend group suddenly weren't. As the crowd slowly dispersed, strangers who had arrived alone headed home sounding more like old friends.
"Bye, Janice."
"Bye, Janice."
Hannah Abrahamse
