Music
Rapper M.I.A. Fired From Tour After Crowd Boos Her Comments About Being a ‘Brown Republican Voter’
M.I.A. has been fired from Kid Cudi’s Rebel Ragers Tour after her monologue in Dallas drew boos from the crowd.
“I’ve been canceled for many reasons. I never thought I would be canceled for being a brown Republican voter,” M.I.A., 50, said to boos from the crowd while performing on Saturday, May 2 at the Dos Equis Pavilion, per Variety.
Other clips from her performance also circulated on social media.
“I can’t do ‘Illegal,’” the British-born artist said in one video shared on TikTok, referring to a song from her 2010 album Maya. She then gestured toward the crowd and added, “But some of you could be in the audience.”
Two days later, the “Day ‘n’ Night” rapper announced M.I.A. had been removed from the tour.
“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,” Cudi, 42, wrote via his Instagram Story on Monday, May 4.
“After the last couple shows, I’ve been flooded with messages from fans that were upset by her rants. This, to me, is very disappointing, and I wont have someone on my tour making offensive remarks that upsets my fanbase. Thank you for understanding. Rager,” he concluded.
Hours after Cudi posted the announcement, M.I.A. responded with a message of her own via X.
“I WROTE ILLYGAL ON THE MAYA LP A SONG FROM 2010. I STARTED THIS INTRO TO THE SONG WITH THE STATEMENT SAYING I’M ILLYGAL, AND I SAID MY TEAM HASN’T GOTTEN VISAS YET,” the “Paper Planes” rapper wrote. “THEN PLAYED A SONG THAT HAD LYRICS SAYING “FU&% THE LAW”, WHICH I STILL BELIEVE, IF THE LAW IS UNJUST F@%& IT. DO NOT GAS LIGHT MY WORDS. THAT IS THE WORK OF SATAN.”
She added that she wrote the songs “‘BORDERS’ AND ILLYGAL AND PAPER PLANES BEFORE YOU THOUGHT IMMIGRANT RIGHTS WERE COOL” and that Jesus was “AN IMMIGRANT AND A REBEL.”
“JESUS RETURNS TO LEAD THE WORLD JUSTLY BECAUSE THERE IS INJUSTICE IN THIS WORLD,” M.I.A. concluded. “IM PROUD OF THOSE WHO FIGHT FOR IT EVERYDAY. GOD BLESS YOU.”
Kid Cudi will continue with the tour as planned with the May 5 show happening in Birmingham, Alabama.
