Kid Cudi (Scott Mescudi) has removed rapper M.I.A. from his "Rebel Ragers Tour" following an onstage rant in Dallas that drew boos from the audience, went viral and sparked widespread social media backlash.
The decision, announced May 4 via Instagram, came days after the tour's Austin stop at Germania Insurance Amphitheater, where both artists shared the stage. While the Austin show did not feature the same level of public confrontation seen later in Dallas, it included moments of disorder, including when M.I.A. invited multiple fans onstage, seemingly straining capacity limits. Her vocals were partially muted in the mix, though she continued performing while hearing herself through in-ear monitors.
M.I.A. Dallas rant triggers backlash; Kid Cudi cites 'offensive remarks'
Mescudi's statement on Instagram cited concerns over "offensive remarks" made during recent performances and said he had previously made clear expectations about stage conduct.
The Austin performance now sits in stark contrast to what unfolded two nights later in Dallas, where M.I.A. was booed during a spoken interlude that quickly circulated online. In video clips widely shared on TikTok and Reddit, she told the crowd, "I've been canceled for many reasons. I never thought I would be canceled for being a brown Republican voter," and added, "I can't do ‘Illygirl,' though some of you could be in the audience."
The comments triggered immediate backlash across social platforms, where fans debated the intent and tone of her remarks. One viral TikTok comment read, "can we start throwing tomatoes again???"
In his Instagram post announcing her removal from the tour, Mescudi said he had previously set expectations with his team regarding onstage content. "After the last couple shows, I've been flooded with messages from fans that were upset by her rants," he wrote. "This, to me, is very disappointing, and I won't have someone on my tour making offensive remarks that upsets my fanbase."
The "Rebel Ragers Tour," which launched April 28 in Phoenix, spans more than 30 North American cities and still includes Big Boi on all dates, with A-Trak, Me N Ü and Dot Da Genius appearing on select shows. As the tour continues without M.I.A., the Austin show now reads as an early, uneasy preview of a rollout that became public controversy in less than a week.
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