Doja Cat has responded to criticism from fans following the opening night of her new tour, which kicked off on Tuesday in Auckland, New Zealand. Fans quickly took to social media to voice their concerns, with many noting the lack of visuals, structure, and outfit changes during the show, which is part of her Ma Vie World Tour promoting her latest album.
The US rapper hit back at the complaints, stating, “I make music for people who enjoy music. I’m not a Broadway act.”
This isn’t the first time the 30-year-old artist has had a tense relationship with her fans online. She previously deactivated her Instagram account after receiving a wave of negative messages.
No Longer ‘Painting the Town Red’?
Doja Cat’s previous tour in 2023 supported her fourth studio album Scarlet, which included hits like Paint the Town Red and Agora Hills. Fans on X (formerly Twitter) noted the similarities between her current and past tours, with one user posting, “No shade, but the Ma Vie tour just gives Scarlet with different outfits.”
Another fan expressed hope that Doja would “listen to the criticism,” but the rapper fired back, saying, “I won’t and I don’t need you.”
When fans questioned her wardrobe choices, with one asking, “No outfit changes this era too…?”, Doja replied, “I’m singing my MUSIC for the people who want to hear me SING.”
Mixed Reactions
While many fans criticised the lack of visuals and outfits, others praised her performance. One fan called her “one of the greatest performers ever” and said her “dance break was breathtaking.”
Despite addressing the complaints head-on, Doja doesn’t seem overly concerned. She urged one fan to “keep your… opinion to yourself,” adding that she puts in a “back-breaking effort” each night on tour. “You are not the artist; you are the watcher,” she stated.
A Testy Relationship with Fans
Doja Cat has a well-documented, sometimes rocky relationship with her fanbase and social media. In 2022, she threatened to quit music, changing her X username to “I quit” after receiving backlash over a cancelled performance in Paraguay.
In 2023, she reportedly lost more than 180,000 Instagram followers after telling her fans, known as “Kittenz”, to “get a job.”
Earlier this year, a viral clip showed Doja meeting a fan, after which she expressed discomfort about him “touching me and kissing me without asking permission.”
Tour Details
Despite the drama, Doja’s Ma Vie World Tour continues. The New Zealand show setlist included 27 tracks, including early hits like Say So and newer chart-toppers like Jealous Type.
Her next performance is on Saturday in Perth, Australia, before the tour heads to South America in 2026. She will also tour Europe in May and June before concluding the tour in the US.