Musical performances were to take place during the first on Sunday evening Lilith Fair: Build a mystery Were canceled as Disney – Doc distributor company, ABC News Studios – continues to face the benefits of the suspension of Jimmy Kimmel last week.
“Although the previously planned musical performance will not take place, we invite you to stay for a reception after the screening to celebrate the documentary,” the organizers said in a statement on Sunday afternoon.
During the first, the co-founder of Lilith Fair Sarah McLachlan, who also appeared in the documentary, presented the film before the screening. She announced that the performances had been canceled in a solidarity decision to support freedom of expression.
McLachlan started her remarks by noting that she had trouble saying.
“It’s a gift for all of us to see [this film],, also I had the fact of being here this evening and around what it is necessary to say about the current situation we are all faced with, the striking contraction of the many advances that we have made by looking at the insidious erosion of women’s rights, trans and queer rights, the muzzle of freedom of expression, “said McLachlan. A path through, and although I am not starting to know, Towards a softening to let the possibility enter in a better way, because I see music as a bridge towards our shared humanity, to find common ground.
She continued: “If Lilith taught me something, it taught me that there is great strength to come together to get up instead of destroying. So, I really hope that this documentary will encourage everyone to continue trying to create a positive change in your communities, to continue to get up, continue to defend the causes you believe with kindness and empathy because ultimately we are all together.
Towards the end of her remarks, she shared the news of the cancellation of performance.
“I know that you expect a performance this evening, and I am so grateful to all of you to have come, and I apologize if it is disappointing, but we have collectively decided not to play, but rather to support solidarity in favor of freedom of expression,” said McLachlan, receiving strong applause in support. She added: “Thank you for your understanding.”
Although the invitation to the event did not specify who planned to perform – he said that only “special surprise performance” were planned – a source tells The Hollywood Reporter That McLachlan and Jewel were the artists who were going to go on stage, as well as another surprise guest. THR contacted the representatives of the event for more information.
On the screen before the projection, a slide noted that ABC News Studios and Hulu support the Downtown Women’s Center, which helps homeless women and various gender individuals; LGBTQ + PFLAG advocacy group; And the Geena Davis Institute, which strives to improve the representations of women and girls in the media. The QR codes for each organization have been displayed for moviegoers to find out more.
Also in the public of the event, which take place at the Ford in Los Angeles, are the singer Lisa Loeb, the actor-comedian Mae Martin and Actorcharlie Barnett.
Meanwhile, the event organized a red carpet before the projection, but it included any member of the press.
The news occurs while Disney continues to face the fallout from Kimmel’s suspension after the ABC remarks at the end of the evening on the assassination of conservative activist Charlie Kirk.
After the owners of Station Nexstar and Sinclair have declared that they would not be broadcast Jimmy Kimmel Live! Following these comments, Disney made the decision to suspend Kimmel indefinitely. The company was confronted with reactions to Hollywood A-Bishops, the current and veterans at the end of the evening, the politicians and the public for its decision, with a lot of Disney accusation of losing pressure from the Trump administration.
Alli Pankiw directed the doc. Dan Levy is producer of the film and Diane Sawyer is an executive producer. The three, with McLachlan, were on the spot at the Toronto International Film Festival earlier this month for the first in the film.
The documentary was published Sunday on Hulu and Disney +.
Stacey Wilson Hunt contributed to this report.
