M.I.A. is suing Kid Cudi for $2.8 million after the British rapper was kicked off his Rebel Ragers Tour for “making offensive remarks” during her opening act.
“Kid Cudi’s attempts to silence freedom of artistic expression and speech on his ‘Rebel Rager’s 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.”
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Rep’s for Kid Cudi did not immediately respond to Variety‘s request for comment.
The figure of $2.8 million comes 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.” 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.”
“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 booted M.I.A. off the tour shortly after a viral rant she made on May 2 during the Dallas date at the Dos Equis Pavilion. In the monologue, which was booed by concert goers, she said things like, “I’ve been canceled for many reasons. I never thought I would be canceled for being a brown Republican voter.” She also said, “I can’t do ‘Illegal,’ though some of you could be in the audience.”
On May 4, Cudi announced on Instagram that M.I.A. was no longer on the Rebel Ragers Tour. He wrote, “TOUR UPDATE: M.I.A is no longer on this tour. I told my management to send a notice to her team before we started tour that I didn’t want anything offensive at my shows, cuz I already knew what time it was, and I was assured things were understood. After the last couple shows, I’ve been flooded with messages from fans that were upset by her rants. This, to me, is very disappointing, and I wont have someone on my tour making offensive remarks that upsets my fanbase. Thank you for understanding. Rager.”
M.I.A. fired back on X hours later. She wrote in all caps, “I WROTE ILLYGAL ON THE MAYA LP A SONG FROM 2010. I STARTED THIS INTRO TO THE SONG WITH THE STATEMENT SAYING I’M ILLYGAL, AND I SAID MY TEAM HASN’T GOTTEN VISAS YET. THEN PLAYED A SONG THAT HAD LYRICS SAYING “FU&% THE LAW”, WHICH I STILL BELIEVE, IF THE LAW IS UNJUST F@%& IT. DO NOT GASLIGHT MY WORDS. THAT IS THE WORK OF SATAN. I WROTE BORDERS AND ILLYGAL AND PAPER PLANES BEFORE YOU THOUGHT IMMIGRANT RIGHTS WERE COOL. I’VE HAD THSES BATTLES BY MYSELF WITHOUT THE HELP OF MILLIONS OF FANS BACKING ME . I DON’T NEED THIS VIRTUE SIGNAL ERA TO ALL OF A SUDDEN ERASE AN ENTIRE LIFE I’VE LED. JESUS WAS AN IMMIGRANT AND A REBEL. I HAVE NO APPOLGY FOR THE JUDGEMENTAL THE WICKED AND THE IGNORENT, FOR THOSE ARE SPIRITS THAT WE MUST OVER COME IN OUR LIVES AND IN THIS WORLD. JESUS RETURNS TO LEAD THE WORLD JUSTLY BECAUSE THERE IS INJUSTICE IN THIS WORLD . IM PROUD OF THOSE WHO FIGHT FOR IT EVERYDAY. GOD BLESS YOU. 🙏🏽 GO LISTEN TO M.I.7.”
The Rebel Ragers tour launched on April 28 and includes stops in 30 American cities.
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