M.I.A. is suing Kid Cudi for more than $2.8 million over accusations that he illegally kicked her off his Rebel Rangers Tour for making political statements onstage, including telling fans that she had been “canceled for being a brown Republican voter.”
The lawsuit, filed Friday (May 29) in Los Angeles federal court, says Cudi (Scott Mescudi) “directed” Live Nation to remove the “Paper Planes” rapper (Mathangi Arulpragasam) from the tour, even though she was legally allowed to speak her mind on stage under her $2.8 million contract.
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M.I.A.’s attorneys say Cudi has “portrayed himself as an aggrieved headliner” who had been forced to terminate an “out-of-control support act” to protect his fans, when the “truth” tells a different story.
“M.I.A. was terminated to generate publicity for the tour, which has struggled with ticket sales,” writes the rapper’s attorney, Howard King. “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.”
A rep for Kid Cudi could not immediately be reached for comment. Live Nation is not named in the lawsuit nor accused of any wrongdoing.
Cudi announced on May 4 that M.I.A. had been removed from the tour after she was booed onstage in Dallas for lines like the “brown Republican” quip — likely a reference to criticism she received after her public endorsement of President Donald Trump in 2024. She also referenced her song “Illegal” and said that “some of you could be in the audience.”
“M.I.A. is no longer on this tour,” Cudi said at the time, adding her team had been explicitly warned that he “didn’t want anything offensive” during the Rebel Rangers tour. “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 won’t have someone on my tour making offensive remarks that upsets my fanbase.”
But in Friday’s lawsuit, M.I.A.’s attorneys say her contract with Live Nation gave her “sole and exclusive creative control” over the content of her performances, with no restrictions on political messaging: “Live Nation agreed to pay M.I.A. over $2.8 million regardless of what she said on stage. That was the deal.”
By telling the company to remove her from the tour anyway, M.I.A. claims that Cudi essentially pushed Live Nation to break the deal — causing her “substantial damages and reputational harm,” allegedly including death threats. In addition to still being owed that $2.8 million fee, she says she also lost merchandise and sync licensing opportunities.
In technical legal terms, M.I.A.’s case accuses Cudi of intentionally interfering with her tour deal and inducing Live Nation to breach it. It does not, however, directly accuse Live Nation of breaching that deal or aim to hold the company itself responsible.
M.I.A. also says Cudi’s statement on her removal was “riddled with falsehoods” and that she had never agreed to stay mum: “He knew her politics. He knew her music. He knew she would not stay silent on stage. He invited her anyways.”
She also seemed to suggest that her statements had been misinterpreted, both by the crowds and by Cudi: “She called for a free Palestine. She condemned U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (“ICE”). She referred to herself, her touring team, and members of the audience as ‘illegal’ immigrants.”
