M.I.A. is suing Kid Cudi for $2.8 million after the British rapper was kicked off his Rebel Ragers Tour for “making offensive remarks” during her opening act.
“Kid Cudi’s attempts to silence freedom of artistic expression and speech on his ‘Rebel Rager’s Tour’ cannot go unchallenged,” read a statement from M.I.A.’s team. “Kid Cudi claimed shock over her comments he now labels as ‘offensive’ and his abrupt and unjustified termination of her performance agreement is a desperate attempt to sell tickets for his tour that was drastically underselling. As a result, his false allegations have fueled a misguided, hive-minded pile-on based on a deliberate misrepresentation of her words.”
Rep’s for Kid Cudi did not immediately respond to Variety‘s request for comment.
The figure of $2.8 million comes from a “guarantee” between the Rebel Rangers Tour promoter, Live Nation, and M.I.A. and her company, Neet Touring LLP. Lawyers for M.I.A. claim Live Nation agreed to pay her that amount “regardless of what she said on stage.” The lawsuit also states Cudi “directed Live Nation to fire M.I.A.,” and “portrayed himself as an aggrieved headliner forced to protect his fans” after insisting that she, “’understood’ that she could not say anything ‘offensive’ on the tour.”
