Grammy-winning rapper, Kid Cudi, has removed British artist M.I.A. from his Rebel Ragers tour, citing what he described as “offensive remarks” that unsettled concertgoers.
Clips shared online captured the moment the singer-songwriter was booed while performing as a supporting act in Dallas, Texas.
The reaction followed her suggestion that she might not perform her track Illygal, explaining that its message about undocumented migrants could be interpreted as applying to individuals in the audience.
In a statement posted on Instagram, Kid Cudi said he had received complaints from fans who were displeased with the situation, noting he was “very disappointed” by what transpired during the show.
He added that expectations had been set prior to the tour, writing that he informed M.I.A.’s management he “didn’t want anything offensive,” and believed those terms had been clearly understood.
M.I.A., born Mathangi Arulpragasam, had been scheduled as the opening act for the tour. Footage from the 2 May performance shows the crowd reacting negatively after she told attendees, “I’ve been cancelled for many reasons. I never thought I would be canceled for being a brown Republican voter.” She also said she would not perform Illygal, adding that its theme might resonate with some in attendance.
In the aftermath of the backlash, the artist posted on X, clarifying that she is unable to vote in the United States despite earlier describing herself as a Republican voter.
Born in London to Sri Lankan parents, M.I.A. rose to fame in the early 2000s with a distinctive sound and politically charged lyrics. She achieved global success with her 2008 hit Paper Planes, which peaked at number four on the US Billboard Hot 100 and earned a Grammy nomination for Record of the Year. She also received an Academy Award nomination for “O… Saya” from the Slumdog Millionaire soundtrack.
In more recent years, however, her public statements have sparked controversy, including comments that led to accusations of anti-vaccine views. After facing criticism for saying she would “take death” over a Covid-19 vaccination, she later clarified that she was not opposed to vaccines themselves but objected to pharmaceutical companies motivated by profit.
In 2024, she launched a clothing line claiming to shield wearers from Wi-Fi and 5G signals—assertions widely dismissed by scientists. She has also publicly voiced support for Donald Trump.
Responding after being dropped from the tour, M.I.A. wrote on X that she created Illygal “before you thought immigrant rights were cool”. She added, “I’ve has these battles myself without the help of millions of fans backing me,” she wrote.
“I don’t need this virtue signal era to all of a sudden erase an entire life I’ve led.”
