The ladies of Lilith Fair are standing with Jimmy Kimmel amid the premiere of their ABC News documentary on Hulu.
Following ABC News Studios‘ cancelation of Sunday’s red carpet for the Lilith Fair: Building a Mystery premiere, music fest founder Sarah McLachlan announced that she and the rest of the evening’s scheduled talents would not be performing amid widespread backlash to Disney‘s announcement that Jimmy Kimmel Live! will be “preempted indefinitely.“
“It’s a gift for all of us to see [this film], but also I’ve grappled with being here tonight and around what to say about the present situation that we are all faced with, the stark contraction to the many advances we’ve made watching the insidious erosion of women’s rights, of trans and queer rights, the muzzling of free speech,” she said in her introduction. “I think we’re all fearful for what comes next, and none of us know, but what I do know is that I have to keep pushing forward as an artist, as a woman to find a way through, and though I don’t begin to know what the answer is, I believe we all need to work towards a softening to let in the possibility of a better way, because I see music as a bridge to our shared humanity, to finding common ground.”
McLachlan continued, “If Lilith taught me anything, it taught me there is a great strength in coming together to lift each other up instead of tearing each other down. So I really hope this documentary inspires everyone to continue to try and create positive change in your communities, to keep lifting each other up, keep championing the causes you believe in with kindness and empathy because ultimately we’re all in this together.”
After she and Jewel were scheduled to perform, McLachlan announced: “I know you’re expecting a performance tonight, and I’m so grateful to all of you for coming, and I apologize if this is disappointing, but we have collectively decided not to perform but instead to stand in solidarity in support of free speech. Thank you for your understanding.”
Kimmel’s suspension has been criticized by many as an attack on free speech, following the FCC‘s warning about his Charlie Kirk comments.
Known for his ‘Prove Me Wrong’ debates and MAGA POV, activist Kirk was shot dead at Utah Valley University on Sept. 10 in a tragedy that has sent shock through the political and media worlds.
Having previously mocked Trump over POTUS’ take on the NFL and TikTok, Kimmel offered his blunt assessment of the aftermath of Kirk’s death in his opening monologue on his Sept. 15 show: “We hit some new lows over the weekend with the MAGA gang desperately trying to characterize this kid who murdered Charlie Kirk as anything other than one of them and doing everything they can to score political points from it.”
The post Sarah McLachlan Opts Out Of Performing At ABC News ‘Lilith Fair’ Doc Premiere “In Support Of Free Speech” appeared first on Deadline.
