WASHINGTON — Rapper Kid Cudi removed singer M.I.A. from his “Rebel Ragers” tour after she made remarks during a performance in Dallas that prompted audience backlash and online criticism, he said on social media.
Kid Cudi announced the decision on Instagram on Monday, saying he instructed his management team to notify M.I.A.’s representatives before the tour began that he did not want offensive content during performances. He said he received assurances that expectations were understood.
He said he removed M.I.A. after receiving messages from fans about her recent performances.
Videos posted online from a May 2 concert in Dallas show M.I.A. making remarks on stage that included the word “illegal,” which prompted booing from parts of the audience, according to the recordings.
M.I.A. responded on X, saying she had referenced immigration-related themes in earlier work and rejecting what she described as misinterpretations of her comments. She cited her 2010 album “Maya” and earlier songs addressing immigration and border issues.
She also said her statements were being taken out of context and criticized how her comments were being characterized online.
The tour began in late April in Phoenix, Arizona. The removal was announced a day before a scheduled stop in Birmingham, Alabama.