Sarah McLachlan Cancels ‘Lilith Fair’ Premiere Performances Amid Jimmy Kimmel Firestorm: ‘We Stand in Solidarity in Support of Free Speech’

During the Los Angeles premiere of her documentary "Lilith Fair: Building a Mystery — The Untold Story," Sarah McLachlan made a significant announcement from the stage of the historic Ford Theater. She revealed that the post-screening concert, which was to feature her and fellow singer-songwriter Jewel, had been canceled. The artist explained this was a collective decision made in solidarity for free speech, a clear nod to the ongoing dispute with Disney. The media giant's streaming service, Hulu, holds exclusive rights to the ABC News-produced film, a fact that placed the event at the center of a corporate and ideological conflict.

The scrapped musical performance was intended to be a highlight, reuniting McLachlan—the co-founder of the groundbreaking 1990s festival Lilith Fair—with Jewel. This cancellation followed an earlier decision to eliminate the event's red carpet entirely, with organizers emailing press members to apologize for the disruption. Lilith Fair, which operated from 1997 to 1999, was a landmark event in music history for its exclusive showcasing of female headliners. It is widely regarded as a pivotal force in challenging the music industry's entrenched gender biases and opening doors for women artists.

The premiere occurred in a highly charged Hollywood atmosphere, intensified by ABC's recent decision to halt production on "Jimmy Kimmel Live!" after the host's contentious comments about commentator Charlie Kirk. This created a stark contrast to the film's more tranquil global debut at the Toronto International Film Festival earlier in the month. Such incidents underscore how quickly entertainment celebrations can become entangled in wider cultural and political battles, reflecting the volatile nature of the current media landscape.

In her opening remarks, McLachlan contextualized the documentary's release against a difficult societal backdrop. She described the film as a "gift" but juxtaposed its themes of empowerment with what she termed a disturbing regression in rights and expression. "We are witnessing an insidious erosion of women’s rights, of trans and queer rights, the muzzling of free speech," she stated. Despite this sobering reality, McLachlan concluded on a hopeful note, expressing her desire that the documentary would inspire audiences to champion positive change and engage in advocacy with "kindness and empathy," reinforcing the idea that "we’re all in this together."