Kid Cudi has defended his decision to join Kanye West on stage during West's Chicago homecoming concert, after facing criticism from fans and radio personality Peter Rosenberg over his continued support for the controversial rapper. The reunion at Soldier Field marked the pair's first live performance together in years, following a well-documented falling-out over West's antisemitic remarks and erratic behaviour, and has reignited debate about whether Cudi should be publicly associating with him again.

West brought Cudi out for three songs — "Father Stretch My Hands, Pt. 1", "Ghost Town" and "Pursuit of Happiness (Nightmare)" — during his three-hour set on 4 September, the second of two homecoming shows. Responding on X to Rosenberg, who noted West "sang Heil Hitler ONE YEAR AGO", Cudi said West was "my brother" of nearly two decades and that he had struggled with mental health issues but was "good" now, adding that West had apologised sincerely. West himself apologised in a Wall Street Journal advert in January, attributing his past actions to bipolar disorder, though Rosenberg countered that West is being treated as a "HERO" rather than facing real accountability.