M.I.A Sues Kid Cudi For $3M After Tour Firing

Weeks after being fired from Kid Cudi’s Rebel Ragers Tour, M.I.A. has fired back with a lawsuit seeking more than $2.8 million in damages.

According to court documents filed May 29 in federal court in California, the artist born Mathangi “Maya” Arulpragasam alleges that Kid Cudi (Scott Mescudi) improperly orchestrated her removal from the Live Nation-produced tour after comments she made onstage during a stop in Dallas. The lawsuit claims Cudi’s actions caused Live Nation to breach its contract with M.I.A., resulting in the loss of a guaranteed $2.805 million payment as well as merchandise and VIP-package revenue tied to the remainder of the run.

More from Spin:

• Charli xcx’s ‘Music, Fashion, Film’ Coming In July
• Best Albums of 2026 (So far)
• Patton Oswalt Wants to Make You Laugh, Then Make You Think, Then Maybe Direct a Movie 

The legal filing marks the latest chapter in a dispute that erupted in early May when Cudi publicly announced that M.I.A. would no longer be opening the tour following what he characterized as “offensive remarks” made from the stage. At the time, Cudi said he had been inundated with complaints from fans upset by M.I.A.’s comments and that he would not continue touring with someone whose statements alienated his audience.

As previously reported, the controversy stemmed from remarks M.I.A. made during a performance at Dallas’ Dos Equis Pavilion, where she referenced being “canceled for being a brown Republican voter.” Following her dismissal, M.I.A. responded on social media, noting that she is not eligible to vote in the United States and questioned criticism directed at members of the Latino community who supported Donald Trump.

In the new lawsuit, M.I.A. argues that Cudi was fully aware of her public persona and history of politically charged commentary when he invited her onto the tour. The complaint alleges that her termination was carried out in bad faith and was designed, at least in part, to generate publicity for a tour playing to a lot of empty seats. “M.I.A. was terminated to generate publicity for the Tour, which has struggled with ticket sales,” the complaint states.

The filing further contends that M.I.A.’s performance agreement granted her creative freedom onstage and that Cudi’s intervention improperly interfered with that arrangement. Among its claims are intentional interference with contractual relations and allegations that Cudi induced Live Nation to breach its agreement with the singer.

The lawsuit also takes aim at Cudi’s public explanation for her removal, describing his statements as “riddled with falsehoods. Kid Cudi’s attempts to silence freedom of artistic expression and speech on his Rebel Ragers Tour cannot go unchallenged,” a statement reads. “Censorship is something M.I.A. has fought against her whole career.”

The statement goes on to argue that M.I.A.’s willingness to discuss controversial political and humanitarian issues has long been central to her public identity, making Cudi’s professed surprise at her comments difficult to reconcile. “Kid Cudi’s 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,” it says.

In addition to the $2.805 million guarantee, M.I.A. is seeking compensatory damages in excess of $75,000, attorney fees and additional relief to be determined by the court.

To see our running list of the top 100 greatest rock stars of all time, click here.

Weeks after being fired from Kid Cudi’s Rebel Ragers Tour, M.I.A. has fired back with a lawsuit seeking more than $2.8 million in damages.SPIN Staff{authorlink}https://www.spinmagazine.com/feed/SPINMusic News, Album Reviews, Concert Photos, Videos and Morehttps://static.spinmagazine.com/files/2023/08/cropped-logo-spin-s-340×340.png