M.I.A. fired back at critics and tour organizers on Monday following her reported removal from Kid Cudi’s “Rebel Ragers Tour” after a string of controversial on-stage political statements.
The 50-year-old rapper and singer, born Maya Arulpragasam, took to social media to defend her actions during a performance in Dallas, where audience members alleged she made divisive comments regarding immigration and political affiliations.
The controversy began Sunday night when concertgoers shared videos of the “Paper Planes” singer addressing the crowd. Reports from the Dallas show indicated that M.I.A. allegedly declared her support for the Republican party and pointed at various individuals in the audience, suggesting they were “illegal.”
She then reportedly claimed she could not perform her 2010 track “Illygal” because of their presence. In a response written largely in all caps on social media, M.I.A. accused her detractors of gaslighting and “virtue signaling.” She clarified that her comments regarding visas were directed at her own team’s travel status and her own history as a London-born artist of Sri Lankan Tamil descent. “I started this intro to the song with the statement saying I’m illygal,” she said, adding that her lyrics have long advocated for marginalized groups before such causes were considered trendy.
M.I.A SPEAKS:
“I have no apology for the judgmental and wicked and the ignorant,” M.I.A. said. She urged her followers not to become “agents of division” and characterized the backlash as an attempt to erase her personal history and activism.
The singer further noted that she has fought battles for immigrant rights for decades, citing her songs “Borders” and “Paper Planes” as evidence of her long-standing commitment to the subject. The removal marks a significant shift for the Rebel Ragers Tour, which was featured as a high-profile collaboration between Kid Cudi and the veteran avant-pop artist.
Removing M.I.A from the tour follows a series of increasingly vocal political endorsements from M.I.A., including her expressed support for Donald Trump. The artist concluded her defense with a religious appeal, stating that her pride remains with those who fight against injustice. “Jesus returns to lead the world justly because there is injustice in this world,” she said.
The tour is expected to continue with a revised schedule, though it remains unclear if a replacement opening act will be named for the remaining dates.
