Sarah McLachlan cancels Lilith Fair doc premiere performance 'in support of free speech' after Ji...

&34;We have collectively decided not to perform but instead to stand in solidarity,&34; McLachlan adds. Sarah McLachlan cancels Lilith Fair doc premiere perform

"We have collectively decided not to perform but instead to stand in solidarity," McLachlan adds.

Sarah McLachlan cancels Lilith Fair doc premiere performance 'in support of free speech' after Jimmy Kimmel suspension

"We have collectively decided not to perform but instead to stand in solidarity," McLachlan adds.

By Mekishana Pierre

Mekishana Pierre

Mekishana Pierre is a news writer at **. She has been working at EW since 2025. Her work has previously appeared on *Entertainment Tonight* and Popsugar.

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September 22, 2025 11:02 a.m. ET

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Sarah McLachlan. Credit:

Mathew Tsang/Getty

The ladies of Lilith Fair have joined the chorus of voices speaking out in support of Jimmy Kimmel after his indefinite suspension from ABC.

At Sunday night's premiere of the ABC News documentary *Lilith Fair: Building a Mystery, *the music festival's co-founder Sarah McLachlan, who also appears in the film, announced that the event's performances were canceled in solidarity to support free speech.

Sarah McLachlan.

Sonia Recchia/Getty

McLachlan shared the news during her introduction of the film, which was released Sunday on Hulu and Disney+, ahead of the screening.

"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 towards the end of her remarks in a clip shared on social media, receiving loud applause in support. She added, "Thank you for your understanding."

Earlier in her speech, McLachlan addressed the "insidious erosion" of rights for marginalized communities.

"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," McLachlan said.

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She continued, "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."**

"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," she added. "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."

That wasn't the only cancellation of the night. Before the screening began, ABC News Studios sent notice that it would no longer host a red carpet for the premiere, which which would have included McLachlan, Jewel, and Mýa walking the carpet alongside documentary director Ally Pankiw.

Kimmel's suspension has resulted in a wave of backlash against Disney as the late-night host's peers and fans object to Kimmel being taken off the air by ABC following pressure from FCC chair Brendan Carr and ABC affiliate groups for comments he made about the alleged killer of right-wing activist Charlie Kirk.

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Fellow late-night hosts Seth Meyers, Jimmy Fallon, David Letterman, and Conan O'Brien have spoken out against Kimmel's benching. MSNBC host Chris Hayes called it "the most straightforward attack on free speech from state actors I've ever seen in my life and it's not even close."

Protestors also gathered outside Kimmel's studio last week to call out ABC.

"Jimmy Kimmel did nothing but point out some of the hypocrisies of these fascists, and for this, he is being canceled and he is being threatened," one protester said, adding that the intent of Kimmel's critics was "go after anybody that is opposing them."**

Jimmy Kimmel on 'Jimmy Kimmel Live'.

Randy Holmes/ABC via Getty

On the other hand, major conservative figures have been celebrating what they call a reversal of "woke" cancellations.

Donald Trump has been especially vocal about his approval of ABC's decision to preempt *Jimmy Kimmel Live. *The former *Apprentice* star took to his social media platform Truth Social to gloat about one of his biggest critics being pulled off the air, writing, "Great News for America: The ratings challenged Jimmy Kimmel Show is CANCELLED."

"Congratulations to ABC for finally having the courage to do what had to be done. Kimmel has ZERO talent, and worse ratings than even Colbert, if that's possible," he added, two months after CBS announced that it was ending *The Late Show With Stephen Colbert.*

Trump went on to note that only two late-night hosts remain: Fallon and *Late Night*'s Seth Meyers, neither of whom he wants to see on the air. "That leaves Jimmy and Seth, two total losers, on Fake News NBC," he wrote. "Their ratings are also horrible. Do it, NBC!!!**

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