M.I.A. is sued Kid Cudi for more than $2.8 million (£2.08 million) after the musician removed her from his Rebel Ragers Tour.
Cudi announced early last month that the Paper Planes artist was being removed after making “offensive remarks” onstage during a show.
The singer pulled the pin on his opening act after receiving messages from upset fans.
In a complaint filed in the United States Court District of California Western Division on 29 May and obtained by Rolling Stone, M.I.A. claims that Kid Cudi knew her political beliefs and reputation before he asked her to open the tour.
“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.”
During a monologue at the Dallas show on 2 May, M.I.A. was loudly booed for her opinions.
“I’ve been cancelled for many reasons. I never thought I would be cancelled for being a brown Republican voter,” she mused at the time.
“Kid Cudi’s attempts to silence freedom of artistic expression and speech on his Rebel Rager’s Tour cannot go unchallenged,” a rep for M.I.A. said in a statement shared with Rolling Stone on Sunday.
“Censorship is something M.I.A has fought against her whole career.”
In addition to seeking $2.8 million from the purported guarantee, it also seeks compensatory damages exceeding $75,000 (£56,000), legal fees, and other further relief the court may deem.
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Author: Saul Goode
Photo: Raph_PH