McLachlan, Jewel cancel Lilith Fair premiere performances to support free speech after Kimmel suspension

Sarah McLachlan and Jewel canceled their planned performances at the Los Angeles premiere of ABC News Studios’ Lilith Fair: Building a Mystery, opting to stand in solidarity with Jimmy Kimmel after Disney suspended his late-night program.

McLachlan, who helped organize Lilith Fair, introduced the film at the screening and told the audience that the artists were not taking the stage to protest Disney’s decision and to support free speech. “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,” McLachlan said, eliciting applause from the crowd. She acknowledged in her remarks that she grappled with attending given what she described as an insidious erosion of women’s rights, of trans and queer rights, and the muzzling of free speech. She added that music can serve as a bridge to shared humanity and urged the audience to work toward a kinder, more inclusive future.

McLachlan also noted that Lilith Fair taught her the value of collective strength, saying, “there is a great strength in coming together to lift each other up instead of tearing each other down.” She urged the audience to let the documentary inspire communities to pursue positive change with kindness and empathy, stressing that “ultimately we’re all in this together.”

Before the screening, ABC News Studios canceled the red carpet for the event, a move that would have featured McLachlan, Jewel, Mýa and director Ally Pankiw walking the carpet. The decision to pause on the premiere comes amid a mounting backlash over Disney’s handling of Kimmel’s suspension.

Jimmy Kimmel has been at the center of renewed controversy after ABC News said his show was pulled “indefinitely” following comments about Charlie Kirk’s assassination, drawing criticism from some lawmakers and media figures. The network cited concerns raised by FCC Chair Brendan Carr and Nexstar Media Group, which had pressured ABC to suspend the program.

Several high-profile late-night hosts publicly defended Kimmel, including Jimmy Fallon, Seth Meyers, David Letterman and Conan O’Brien, who criticized Disney’s decision and the timing of the suspension. The debate over Kimmel’s remarks and the balance between political commentary and platform decisions intensified in the days leading up to the Los Angeles premiere.

More than 400 Hollywood stars joined the American Civil Liberties Union in signing an open letter calling for the protection of constitutionally protected rights and urging Americans to defend free speech. The letter, which includes signatures from Jennifer Aniston, Ariana Grande, Jane Fonda, Meryl Streep, Tom Hanks, Pedro Pascal, Robert De Niro, Christina Applegate, Kirsten Dunst, Natalie Portman and Jean Smart, emphasizes a commitment to safeguarding civil liberties in a tense cultural moment.

The premiere and the broader conversation reflect ongoing tensions in entertainment over how political speech, platform decisions and corporate policy intersect with artistic expression. The Lilith Fair: Building a Mystery documentary, which follows the era and impact of Lilith Fair’s women-led festival movement, remains a touchstone in discussions about representation, speech and the role of artists in society. While some artists chose to perform, the decision by McLachlan and Jewel to step back underscores how creators are weighing the duties of public messaging with their artistic commitments in a highly scrutinized media environment.