M.I.A. Sues Kid Cudi for $2.8M Over Tour Exit, Alleging Breach of Contract and Censorship Claims
British rapper M.I.A. has filed a $2.8 million lawsuit against Kid Cudi, accusing the American artist of breaching a touring agreement after she was removed from his ongoing “Rebel Ragers” tour over comments made on stage.
The “Paper Planes” hitmaker, 50, filed the complaint in Los Angeles on May 29, alleging that Cudi (real name Scott Mescudi), 42, improperly terminated her performance agreement after a controversial concert appearance in Dallas on May 2.
According to the filing, M.I.A. was originally scheduled to appear as a special guest on 33 tour dates under an agreement that guaranteed her company, Neet Touring, $2.8 million through Live Nation, regardless of on-stage remarks.
In court documents obtained by PEOPLE, M.I.A. claims Kid Cudi was fully aware of her outspoken political views before booking her and that her stage remarks were consistent with her established public persona.
“Kid Cudi’s attempts to silence freedom of artistic expression and speech on his Rebel Ragers tour cannot go unchallenged,” a spokesperson for M.I.A. said in a statement. “Censorship is something M.I.A. has fought against her whole career.”
The statement further alleges that Cudi’s decision to remove her from the tour was motivated by poor ticket sales and was “a desperate attempt to sell tickets,” adding that his public comments had fueled a “pile-on” based on what her team calls a misrepresentation of her statements.
Cudi’s representatives did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
M.I.A. was reportedly removed from the tour following her May 2 performance in Dallas, where she was booed after addressing political issues and her immigration status on stage.
In remarks cited in the complaint, she told the audience: “I’ve been canceled for many things. I never thought I’d be canceled for being a Republican voting American,” before adding, “I am illegal. Half of my team are not here because they didn’t get the visa.”
She had also previously used tour appearances to speak in support of Palestine and criticize U.S. immigration enforcement policies.
However, M.I.A. later clarified on social media that she is not eligible to vote in the United States.
Kid Cudi responded to the controversy in a statement posted on social media, saying he had warned M.I.A. and her team ahead of the tour not to make “offensive” remarks during performances.
“After the last couple shows, I’ve been flooded with messages from fans that were upset by her rants,” he wrote. “This, to me, is very disappointing and I won’t have someone on my tour making offensive remarks that upsets my fanbase.”
He added that he was assured expectations had been understood before the tour began.
In addition to the alleged breach of contract, M.I.A. claims she has suffered financial and personal harm as a result of her removal from the tour.
The filing states she lost merchandise revenue, had a $290,000 private event booking canceled, and has received death threats targeting both herself and her 17-year-old son.
Her lawsuit accuses Cudi of breach of contract and intentional interference with contractual relations, alleging he was aware of the Live Nation agreement and acted to “generate publicity and ticket sales” through her removal.
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