M.I.A. Kicked Off Kid Cudi Tour Following 'Offensive' Onstage Comments
Less than one week into his Rebel Ragers tour, Kid Cudi(real name Scott Ramon Seguro Mescudi) has fired one of his supporting acts. The performer announced that "Paper Planes" singer M.I.A. (real name Mathangi Arulpragasam) was kicked off the tour on May 4 after videos of onstage political rants went viral days earlier.
"M.I.A is no longer on this tour," he shared on Instagram following fan backlash. "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."
Among those statements are the "Come Around" singer saying, "I've been canceled for many reasons. I never thought I would be canceled for being a brown Republican voter," and adding, "I can't do ‘Illegal,' though some of you could be in the audience."
Following audible boos from the audience, she added, "I'm illegal - half of my team aren't here because they couldn't get their visa." M.I.A. is a citizen of the United Kingdom, but she did endorse President Donald Trumpin the 2024 election.
Yes that's all fine but this isn't…
— Billy (@Pryme72) May 4, 2026
pic.twitter.com/eu6ITaHcFY
"This, to me, is very disappointing," Cudi added in his response. "I won't have someone on my tour making offensive remarks that upsets my fanbase." The tour also features Big Boi, A-Trak, Me N U, and Dot Da Genius.
In a speedy response, M.I.A. accused the rapper and his fans of "gaslighting" her words.
"I STARTED THIS INTRO TO THE SONG WITH THE STATEMENT SAYING I'M ILLYGAL, AND I SAID MY TEAM HASN'T GOTTEN VISAS YET. THEN PLAYED A SONG THAT HAD LYRICS SAYING 'FU&% THE LAW', WHICH I STILL BELIEVE, IF THE LAW IS UNJUST F@%& IT," she wrote in the lengthy rant. "I WROTE 'BORDERS' AND 'ILLYGAL' AND 'PAPER PLANES' BEFORE YOU THOUGHT IMMIGRANT RIGHTS WERE COOL... I DON'T NEED THIS VIRTUE SIGNAL ERA TO ALL OF A SUDDEN ERASE AN ENTIRE LIFE I'VE LED... I HAVE NO APPOLGY FOR THE JUDGEMENTAL THE WICKED AND THE IGNORENT."
The Rebel Ragers Tour is Kid Cudi's first major tour in four years, since 2022. Unfortunately, the tour has been marred by controversy and low ticket sales at certain locations, between backlash from M.I.A's drama and a May 4 announcement that he would have to cancel his Birmingham, Alabama stop.
"I wanted to give y'all a special experience, but the ticket sales just weren't strong enough," he wrote on his Stories. However, he insisted this was a one-off issue, adding, "the rest of the tour will go on as scheduled... This has been my best selling tour to date!"
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This story was originally published May 4, 2026 at 1:35 PM.