M.I.A. Sues Kid Cudi for $2.8M After Tour Controversy
The rapper alleges she was wrongfully terminated from the Rebel Ragers Tour after onstage political statements.
TORONTO, ONTARIO - SEPTEMBER 06: M.I.A. attends the premiere of "Sacrifice" during the 2025 Toronto International Film Festival at Princess of Wales Theatre on September 06, 2025 in Toronto, Ontario. (Photo by Matt Winkelmeyer/Getty Images)
Photo by Matt Winkelmeyer/Getty Images.
M.I.A. has filed a $2.8 million lawsuit against Kid Cudi after she was kicked off of his tour. In May, Cudi fired M.I.A. from his Rebel Ragers Tour for “making offensive remarks” during her set as opening act. According to Variety, reps for M.I.A. issued a statement blasting Cudi for his actions.
“Kid Cudi’s attempts to silence freedom of artistic expression and speech on his Rebel Ragers Tour cannot go unchallenged,” read a statement from M.I.A.’s team. “Kid Cudi claimed shock over her comments he now labels as ‘offensive,’ and his abrupt and unjustified termination of her performance agreement is a desperate attempt to sell tickets for his tour that was drastically underselling. As a result, his false allegations have fueled a misguided, hive-minded pile-on based on a deliberate misrepresentation of her words.”
The lawsuit also states Cudi “directed Live Nation to fire M.I.A.,” and “portrayed himself as an aggrieved headliner forced to protect his fans” after insisting that she “’understood’ that she could not say anything ‘offensive’ on the tour.”
Neither Cudi nor his representatives have commented on the lawsuit or statement from MI.A.’s team. Reportedly, $2.8 million was determined to be the amount from a “guarantee” between the Rebel Rangers Tour promoter, Live Nation, and M.I.A. and her company, Neet Touring LLP. Lawyers for M.I.A. claim Live Nation agreed to pay her that amount “regardless of what she said on stage.”
“Here is the truth. M.I.A. was terminated to generate publicity for the tour, which has struggled with ticket sales,” reads the lawsuit obtained by Variety. “She was contractually allowed to say whatever she wanted on stage. M.I.A. now holds Kid Cudi accountable for his bad faith destruction of her contractual rights, business opportunities, and reputation.”
Cudi severed ties with M.I.A. after her statements onstage at a May 2 performance during the Dallas date at the Dos Equis Pavilion. As she was booed by concertgoers, she said things like, “I’ve been canceled for many reasons. I never thought I would be canceled for being a brown Republican voter,” and “I can’t do ‘Illegal,’ though some of you could be in the audience.”
