Kid Cudi Fires M.I.A. From His Tour After She Is Booed During Republican Rant: ‘I Won’t Have Someone on Tour Making Offensive Remarks’

Kid Cudi has officially removed M.I.A. from the lineup of openers for his ongoing Rebel Ragers Tour, following a controversial outburst during a recent performance. The decision was announced via Cudi’s Instagram on May 4, just two days after the incident, which took place at the Dos Equis Pavilion in Dallas on May 2. The venue, a sprawling outdoor amphitheater in the Texas city’s Fair Park district, has hosted numerous major acts over the years, but this particular event took an unexpected turn when M.I.A. took the stage.

During her set, M.I.A. launched into a heated rant that drew boos from the crowd, with remarks such as, “I’ve been canceled for many reasons. I never thought I would be canceled for being a brown Republican voter.” She also stated, “I can’t do ‘Illegal,’ though some of you could be in the audience,” a line that quickly spread across social media platforms and forums like Reddit, as well as outlets such as Consequence of Sound. M.I.A., born Mathangi Arulpragasam and known for her politically charged music and outspoken nature—including her 2010 hit “Paper Planes” and her 2016 Super Bowl halftime show controversy—has a history of polarizing statements. However, Cudi, whose real name is Scott Mescudi and who rose to fame with his 2009 album “Man on the Moon: The End of Day,” made it clear that such behavior was not welcome on his tour.

In his Instagram statement, Cudi wrote, “TOUR UPDATE: M.I.A is no longer on this tour. 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.” He added that after the last couple of shows, he was “flooded with messages from fans that were upset by her rants,” describing the situation as “very disappointing.” Cudi concluded, “I wont have someone on my tour making offensive remarks that upsets my fanbase. Thank you for understanding. Rager.” The decision underscores Cudi’s commitment to maintaining a positive atmosphere at his concerts, a priority that has become increasingly common among artists in the wake of live performance disruptions. As the Rebel Ragers Tour continues, fans can expect a revised opening act lineup, with no replacement announced as of yet. Video footage of M.I.A.’s Dallas rant has since circulated widely online, further fueling discussion about the incident.