Over the weekend, M.I.A. drew massive boos during her opening set in Dallas on Kid Cudi’s “The Rebel Ragers Tour” after claiming she was “canceled” after becoming a Republican and making controversial remarks about potential “illegal” immigrants in the audience.
According to two separate reddit posts about the May 2nd show at Dos Equis Pavilion, the “Paper Planes” singer first commented about the backlash to her being a Republican. Though M.I.A. is likely unable to participate in US elections as a UK citizen, she followed Robert Kennedy Jr.’s lead in 2024 in endorsing Trump.
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“I’ve been canceled for many reasons,” M.I.A. said, according to one redditor. “I never thought I would be canceled for being a brown Republican voter.”
As captured in fan-shot videos, M.I.A. was heavily booed and barely audible when she appeared to say, “I can’t do ‘Illegal,’ though some of you could be in the audience.”
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When the boos became even louder, she tried to win the crowd back by saying, “I’m illegal — half of my team aren’t here because they couldn’t get their visa.”
Multiple attendees claimed M.I.A. appeared to then pipe in fake cheers following the rant.
Best known for the 2007 hit “Paper Planes,” when she sings, “If you catch me at the border, I got visas in my name,” M.I.A. previously flirted with the anti-vax movement in 2020 and launched a clothing line meant to block 5G waves in 2024 on Alex Jones’ Infowars.
She is certainly an odd choice to open for Kid Cudi, who previously told Esquire that he “totally disagree[s]” with his mentor Kanye West’s pro-Trump stance.
The next stop on Cudi’s tour is on Tuesday, May 5th in Birmingham, Alabama. Get tickets here, though you may want to time your arrival for other special guests including Big Boi and A-Trak instead.
@shalsea_mac
@KidCudi you were awesome but THIS?? #fyp #kidcudi #fy #TheRebelRagersTour #MIA
♬ original sound – The Famous Grave Co.
@241106ir
Replying to @Dante sorry this is ALL i gottt #fyp #kidcudi #mia #paperplanes #rebelragerstour
♬ original sound – tae
@dianarloz
I was in disbelief. #concert #concerts #kidcudi
♬ original sound – RYD ✪