Rapper Kid Cudi removes British star M.I.A. from tour

Rapper Kid Cudi removes British star M.I.A. from tour 1 hour agoShareSaveAdd as preferred on GoogleGeorgia Levy-CollinsBBC NewsbeatGetty ImagesM.I.A. was booed by fans at the 2 May Dallas show ahead of performing her hit Paper PlanesGrammy award-winning rapper Kid Cudi has dropped singer-songwriter M.I.A. from his Rebel Ragers tour over "offensive remarks" which left his fanbase "upset".Videos online show the British star being booed after suggesting she was unable to perform her song Illygal, about an undocumented migrant, because it could apply to members of the crowd.Writing on Instagram, Kid Cudi said he'd been flooded with messages after the Paper Planes singer's comments during a support slot at his show in Dallas, Texas.In his statement, Kid Cudi said it was "very disappointing" and claimed he had explained to M.I.A.'s management that he "didn't want anything offensive" prior to the tour.Kid Cudi, real name Scott Ramon Seguro Mescudi, also said he was led to believe that M.I.A.'s team had understood his request to avoid potentially divisive statements.M.I.A., real name Mathangi Arulpragasam, was the warm-up act for Kid Cudi's Rebel Ragers tour.Footage from a 2 May performance shows the audience erupt into boos after the singer says: "I've been cancelled for many reasons. I never thought I would be canceled for being a brown Republican voter."She is also heard to say she can't perform the song Illygal, "though some of you could be in the audience".In a follow-up post on X, she stated she was not able to vote in the US, despite describing herself as a Republican voter.London-born singer M.I.A. began releasing music in 2003, and became a sensation thanks to her unconventional sound and discussion of political themes influenced by her upbringing as a child of Sri Lankan parents.She reached major recognition with her 2008 song Paper Planes, which hit number four on...