NEED TO KNOW
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MIA has sued Kid Cudi for $2.8 million in damages after he was kicked out of his Rebel Ragers tour.
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The lawsuit alleges that Cudi breached her contract and used her dismissal to boost ticket sales for the unsuccessful tour.
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Cudi said on social media that her onstage comments "upset his fans.".
MIA has filed a $2.8 million lawsuit against Kid Cudi, claiming the rapper breached her contract by kicking her off his tour for making "offensive" statements on stage.
The 50-year-old "Paper Planes" singer filed a lawsuit in a Los Angeles court on May 29, claiming Cudi, 42, "knew her political views" and knew "she would not remain silent on stage" when he invited her as a special guest on his ongoing Rebel Ragers tour.
«"Kid Cudi's attempts to suppress freedom of artistic expression and speech during his Rebel Ragers tour cannot go unanswered. Censorship is something M.I.A. has fought against her entire career," a representative for M.I.A. told PEOPLE. "Kid Cudi's professed shock over her comments, which he now calls 'offensive,' and his sudden and unjustified termination of her contract are a desperate attempt to sell tickets for his already poorly selling tour. As a result, his false accusations are fueling a misguided, collectively directed wave of criticism based on a deliberate distortion of her words.".
A representative for Cudi (real name: Scott Mescudi) did not immediately respond to PEOPLE's request for comment.
MIA performs at Coachella in April 2026. Photo: Kevin Mazur/Getty
British singer M.I.A. was scheduled to join Cudi for 33 dates of his tour, but was fired after a May 2 concert in Dallas, during which she was booed for making on-stage comments about politics and her immigration status.
«"I've been 'canceled' for many reasons. I never thought I'd be 'canceled' for being an American who votes Republican. So I came to meet you all in person. This is the 'Let Me Reintroduce Myself' tour," she said on stage, according to a complaint obtained by PEOPLE. "Okay, I'm illegal. Half my team isn't here because they couldn't get visas. I want you to know that.".
At previous concerts on the tour, she also called for freedom for Palestine and condemned ICE (U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement), though on May 4, she wrote on X that she could not vote in the United States.
In a statement posted to his social media on May 4, Cudi said he warned M.I.A. and her team before the tour began that he "didn't want anything offensive" at his concerts and "was assured everyone understood.".
«"After the last few shows, I've been inundated with messages from fans upset by her comments," he wrote. "This is deeply disappointing to me, and I will not tolerate anyone on my tour making offensive comments that upset my fans. Thank you for your understanding.".
Kid Cudi performing at Coachella in April 2024. Photo: Scott Dudelson/Getty
In her lawsuit, MIA claims Cudi's statement is "filled with lies" because he allegedly knew of her reputation as a politically active artist and that her comments were "consistent with her public persona and previous performances.".
According to the complaint, MIA and her company, Neet Touring, had an agreement with Live Nation that guaranteed $2.8 million for the Rebel Ragers tour.
«"The agreement grants [Neet Touring] sole and exclusive creative control over M.I.A.'s performances," the document reads. "Therefore, Live Nation agreed to pay M.I.A. over $2.8 million regardless of what she said on stage. That was the agreement.".
In her statement, MIA claims she has lost sales of her products, her $290,000 private sale offer has been withdrawn, and she and her 17-year-old son, Ikhid, have received death threats.
She filed a lawsuit for breach of contract and intentional interference with contractual relations, alleging that Cudi knew about the agreement with Live Nation and violated it "to gain publicity and boost ticket sales for the tour.".
The performer of the hit "Pursuit of Happiness" plans to continue his tour until the end of June.
Read the original article on People.