AUCKLAND, NEW ZEALAND—In a fiery online exchange, global superstar Doja Cat has emphatically dismissed a wave of fan complaints regarding the opening night of her new “Ma Vie World Tour,” bluntly telling critics that her focus is on music, not theatrical production or expensive costume changes.
The rapper, known for her sharp social media presence, lashed out after her Tuesday night show in Auckland, New Zealand, drew immediate comparisons to her previous, more visually extravagant Scarlet Tour, with fans criticizing the new show’s perceived lack of elaborate visuals, cohesive storyline, and frequent wardrobe swaps.
The Complaints and The Clapback
The friction began on social media platform X (formerly Twitter) where videos and comments from the first show of the tour, which supports her latest album Vie, went viral.
- The Criticism: Fans voiced disappointment over the “simple stage setup,” the absence of dancers, and the distinct lack of multiple outfit changes. One user wrote, “No shade the Vie tour just gives scarlet with different outfits,” while another hoped the singer would be “open to feedback.”
- Doja’s Response: The Grammy-winning artist responded with a blistering dismissal, making it clear she intends to ignore the criticism. “I won’t and I don’t need you,” she shot back at one user. To another who questioned the lack of storyline in a tour called “My Life,” she stated: “Because I make music for people who enjoy music. I’m not a Broadway act.”
The response grew even more aggressive when addressing the wardrobe criticism. “And I’m not your fking costume monkey,” she wrote. “I move at my own pace and break my fking back out there every night so you can keep your bulls**t opinion to yourself. You are not the artist you are the watcher.”
Music First, Gimmicks Later
The singer’s stance is a firm reiteration of her artistic independence, emphasizing a desire to move away from the hyper-visual, meme-driven persona that defined her earlier albums, Hot Pink and Planet Her.
- Vocal Focus: In addressing the complaint about limited costume changes, she wrote: “Who fking cares I’m singing my MUSIC for the people who want to hear me SING. You’re not even at the fking show.”
- Unwavering Defiance: When a fan suggested she should at least “take the wig off halfway through or SOMETHING,” Doja responded with a short, defiant message: “Watch me not do any of these things :)”
While some fans were supportive of the stripped-back, high-energy performance, praising her sustained vocal and physical stamina throughout the hour-and-a-half set, the clash once again highlights the often-strained relationship Doja Cat has with her fan base, a relationship defined by her willingness to challenge and even openly troll her most ardent supporters.
The “Ma Vie World Tour” is scheduled to continue through South America, Europe, and the United States, suggesting that the “music-first” philosophy—and the controversy surrounding it—is likely to travel with her.