MIA Sues Kid Cudi After Kicked-Off Tour for ‘Offensive’ Rant

Rapper M.I.A is suing Kid Cudi after he kicked her off of his Rebel Ragers Tour earlier this year.

M.I.A.’s team noted in a statement that “Kid Cudi’s attempts to silence freedom of artistic expression and speech on his ‘Rebel Rager’s Tour’ cannot go unchallenged.”

“Kid Cudi claimed shock over her comments he now labels as ‘offensive’ and his abrupt and unjustified revocation of her performance agreement is a desperate attempt to sell tickets for his tour that was drastically underselling,” the statement read. “As a result, his false allegations have fueled a misguided, hive-minded pile-on based on a deliberate misrepresentation of her words.”

The lawsuit is seeking $2.8 million, which refers to a “guarentee” between the Rebel Rangers Tour promoter, Live Nation, and M.I.A. And her company, Neet Touring LLP. The rapper’s lawyers claim that Live Nation had agreed to pay her that amount “regardless of what she said on stage.” Additionally, the suit claimed that Cudi “directed Live Nation to fire M.I.A.” And “portrayed himself as an aggrieved headliner forced to protect his fans.”

However, the lawsuit, obtained by Variety, tells a different story.

”Here is the truth,” the suit states. “M.I.A was terminated to generate publicity for the Tour, which has struggled with ticket sales. 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.”

The lawsuit follows M.I.A.’s removal from Cudi’s tour early last month shortly after she made a viral monologue during a stop at Dallas’ Dos Equis Pavilion.

“I’ve been canceled for many reasons,” M.I.A said during the speech. “I never thought I would be canceled for being a brown Republican voter.”

She also added that “I can’t do ‘Illygal,’ though some of you could be in the audience.”

Cudi took to Instagram two days later to announce that M.I.A would no longer remain on the Rebel Ragers Tour, noting that “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,” Cudi said. “This, to me, is very disappointing, and I won’t have someone on my tour making offensive remarks that upsets my fanbase. Thank you for understanding. Rager.”

No further details regarding the lawsuit have been revealed at this time.