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.
M.I.A., born Mathangi Arulpragasam, said in a complaint filed in a California federal court that Kid Cudi knew her political beliefs and reputation before he invited her on the tour and that she was given full creative control over her set in a contract.
"M.I.A. was terminated to generate publicity for the Tour, which has struggled with ticket sales," the complaint alleges. "She was contractually allowed to say whatever she wanted on stage. M.I.A. now holds Kid Cudi accountable for his bad faith destruction of her contractual rights, business opportunities, and reputation.
Kid Cudi, named in the complaint under his birth name Scott Ramon Seguro Mescudi, kicked M.I.A. off the tour after a May 3rd show in Dallas drew boos from the crowd during her set.
"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," it adds. "As a result, his false allegations have fueled a misguided, hive-minded pile-on based on a deliberate misrepresentation of her words."
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