Liputan6.com, Jakarta - Renowned rapper Kid Cudi has officially removed his fellow musician, M.I.A., from his "The Rebel Ragers" tour.
The decision was made on Monday, May 4, 2026, following a series of controversial comments made by M.I.A. regarding immigration issues during her opening performance.
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The incident began when M.I.A. performed at Dos Equis Pavilion in Dallas, Texas, on Saturday, May 2, 2026.
Her performance, which was supposed to be an uplifting one, was instead marred by insensitive remarks that sparked a negative reaction.
Kid Cudi announced M.I.A.'s dismissal via his Instagram Story, explaining that he would not tolerate offensive speech at his concerts.
“I’ve been canceled for many reasons. I never thought I would be canceled for being a brown Republican voter,” as reported by Variety.
The M.I.A. Controversy On Stage
On a night that was supposed to be a celebration of music, M.I.A. instead made some controversial statements.
In front of a crowd of thousands in Dallas, she stated that she was "canceled because I'm a brown Republican voter."
She didn't stop there, but M.I.A. continued by saying, "“We can’t perform [my song] Illegal, though some of you could be in the audience."
Seeing the negative reaction, M.I.A. tried to defuse the situation by adding, "All right, I’m illegal. Half of my team are not here because they didn’t get the visa, OK? I want you to know that. All right? So don’t listen to what the bots say on the internet.”
She explained that she was referring to her song "ILLYGIRL" from her 2010 album *MAYA*.
“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. Then played a song that had lyrics saying “F- the law”, which I still believe, if the law is unjust f- it.”
Kid Cudi's Firm Reaction and Fan Backlash
On May 4, 2026, Kid Cudi announced his decision to terminate M.I.A.'s contract with the band and from the tour.
He expressed his deep disappointment, noting that he had informed M.I.A.'s management before the tour that he did not want any offensive content at his shows.
Kid Cudi confirmed that he was inundated with messages from fans upset by M.I.A.'s remarks.
"This, to me, is extremely disappointing, and I will not allow someone on my tour to make offensive statements that upset my fanbase. Thank you for your understanding," Kid Cudi wrote, demonstrating his commitment to maintaining the comfort and respect of his audience.
Today, Kid Cudi confirmed MIA would no longer be accompanying him on the road in an Instagram story post.
“MIA is no longer on this tour,” he wrote. “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.
M.I.A.'s Trail of Controversies In the Past
The incident on "The Rebel Ragers" tour was not the first time M.I.A. has been involved in controversy.
Throughout her career, she has been known to frequently express controversial views.
Previously, M.I.A. made controversial claims regarding 5G technology and the COVID-19 vaccine, the veracity of which was widely questioned by the public and the scientific community.
Furthermore, M.I.A. also launched a clothing line of "tin foil hats" that claimed to block electromagnetic waves, an initiative that also drew both pros and cons.
In September 2025, she reportedly went on an on-stage "rant" about the Palestinian issue, her support for Donald Trump, and bird flu, further cementing her image as an outspoken but often controversial artist.