M.I.A. has filed a lawsuit against Kid Cudi, claiming he kicked her off a tour in early May to drum up publicity, leaving her without more than $2.8 million in guaranteed pay.
M.I.A., born Mathangi Arulpragasam, said in a complaint filed in a California federal court that Kid Cudi knew her political beliefs and reputation before he invited her on the Live-Nation promoted “Rebel Ragers Tour” and that she was given full creative control over her set in a contract.
“M.I.A. was terminated to generate publicity for the Tour, which has struggled with ticket sales,” the complaint alleges. “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.”
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Kid Cudi, named in the complaint under his birth name Scott Ramon Seguro Mescudi, booted M.I.A. from the tour after a May 3rd show in Dallas drew boos from the crowd during her set just a couple days after “Rebel Ragers” got under way.
On stage, she made remarks that some interpreted to be about immigrants, but that M.I.A. said was a reference to her song “ILLYGIRL.” She also told the audience that she had “been cancelled for many things. I never thought I’d be cancelled for being a Republican voting American,” according to the complaint. Earlier reports quoted M.I.A. as saying she had been cancelled for being a “brown” Republican voter.
After being kicked off the tour, M.I.A. walked back some of her words in a social media post, saying that she can’t vote in the U.S.
Following the Dallas show, Kid Cudi put out a statement that said he had an understanding with M.I.A. there wouldn’t be anything offensive at his shows.
“After the last couple shows, I’ve been flooded with messages from fans that were upset by her rants,” Kid Cudi said. “This, to me, is very disappointing and I won’t have someone on my tour making offensive remarks that upsets my fanbase.”
The lawsuit claims that Kid Cudi’s statement was “riddle with falsehoods,” and he induced Live Nation to break its contract with M.I.A. and her company Neet Touring.
“Kid Cudi’s motivations are purely commercial,” the complaint said. “He has already been forced to cancel a Tour date due to low ticket sales. He has ridiculed and attempted to ‘cancel’ M.I.A. to market the Tour and sell tickets.”
Kid Cudi had asked Live Nation to put M.I.A. on the tour, according to the complaint, and she was guaranteed just a bit more than $2.8 million to do the string of concerts.
Because of the tour fiasco, M.I.A. had a private-event offer worth almost $300,000 rescinded, along with merchandise and licensing deals, the lawsuit claimed. She and her son had received death threats after she was taken off the tour.
M.I.A. is asking the court to force Kid Cudi to pay her the $2.8 million plus punitive damages and legal fees.
In 2024, M.I.A. endorsed then-presidential-candidate Donald Trump.
“The Rebel Ragers Tour” is still ongoing. Fans can get tickets here.
Kid Cudi 2026 Tour Dates:
06/02 — Camden, NJ @ Freedom Mortgage Pavilion #^
06/03 — Hartford, CT @ The Meadows Music Theatre #^
06/05 — Mansfield, MA @ Xfinity Center #%
06/06 — Bangor, ME @ Maine Savings Amphitheater #%
06/08 — Syracuse, NY @ Empower Federal Credit Union Amphitheater at Lakeview #%
06/10 — Noblesville, IN @ Ruoff Music Center #%
06/12 — Denver, CO @ JUNKYARD #*
06/13 — Salt Lake City, UT @ Utah First Credit Union Amphitheatre #*
06/16 — Auburn, WA @ White River Amphitheatre #*
06/19 — Vancouver, BC @ Rogers Arena #*
06/20 — Ridgefield, WA @ Cascades Amphitheater #*
06/23 — Mountain View, CA @ Shoreline Amphitheatre #*
06/26 — Los Angeles, CA @ Crypto.com Arena #*
06/27 — Chula Vista, CA @ North Island Credit Union Amphitheatre #*
# = w/ special guest Big Boi
^ = w/ special guest A-Trak
% = w/ special guest me n ü
* = w/ special guest Dot Da Genius
