Olivia Rodrigo was originally scheduled to attend the premiere of Disney’s Lilith Fair documentary this weekend, but she cancelled her appearance to show support for Jimmy Kimmel.
The Hollywood Reporter says the premiere invitations hinted at ‘special surprise performances’.
As a huge fan, I was so excited to hear that Sarah McLachlan, the founder of Lilith Fair, and Jewel were planning to perform! Then, Matt Belloni from Puck reported that Olivia Rodrigo was also secretly booked as a surprise guest – talk about a dream lineup!
But on the night, the promised performances never materialized.
McLachlan, who presented the film, strongly suggested the sets were removed because of the controversy surrounding Kimmel’s suspension.
She said seeing this film felt like a shared gift, but she’d been struggling with what to say about the current moment. She highlighted the troubling reversal of progress, specifically the loss of rights for women, transgender and LGBTQ+ people, and the suppression of free expression.
We’re all understandably anxious about the future, and it’s uncertain what lies ahead. But I know I must continue to create and grow, both as an artist and as a woman, to navigate whatever comes next. I don’t have the answers, but I believe we all need to be more open to the possibility of a brighter path. I see music as a way to connect with each other, to find the things we have in common, and ultimately, to remind us of our shared humanity.
Rodrigo, age 22, makes a short appearance at the end of the film, explaining that the innovative all-women music festival greatly influenced her as an artist.
‘The Lilith Fair artists were my north stars,’ she says in the segment.
Although McLachlan confirmed some cancellations had occurred, it was Rodrigo’s absence that people noticed the most.
People immediately went to social media to praise her choice, celebrating the Grammy-winning artist for always being strong and standing up for what she believes in.
Others hailed the move as ‘activism done right.’
One X user praised her activism and support, noting it was impressive despite her early success being connected to Disney, calling her an icon.
One fan commented on how impressed they were with her decision to withdraw from such a large event, calling it a bold move and praising her as a genuine superstar.
But not everyone agreed.
Some critics claimed Rodrigo upset her fans by missing the premiere and instead focused on public disagreements.
The Daily Mail has reached out to Rodrigo’s representatives for comment.
This announcement follows a recent social media post by the singer of ‘Vampire’ where they spoke about the issues surrounding the talk show host.
Rodrigo expressed her outrage at what she sees as clear censorship and misuse of authority, sharing a statement from SAG-AFTRA. She voiced her support for Jimmy Kimmel and affirmed her belief in free speech.
Rodrigo’s career took off in 2019 when she landed a role in the Disney+ show, High School Musical: The Musical: The Series.
After starring in three seasons of the show, she left in order to pursue her solo music career.
The singer also worked with the company on her Disney+ documentary, *Olivia Rodrigo: Driving Home 2 U*, which showed the process of creating her album *Sour*.
Rodrigo has openly discussed political issues and last year publicly supported Kamala Harris in the lead-up to the 2024 U.S. presidential election.
In 2021, she helped the White House encourage young people in the U.S. to get vaccinated against COVID-19 during the pandemic.
Rodrigo joined over 400 celebrities in signing an ACLU letter that defended free speech and criticized Disney for temporarily stopping Jimmy Kimmel Live! on Monday.
This letter starts with a strong statement: citizens should never allow the government to threaten our right to speak freely. When leaders try to punish artists, reporters, or businesses for expressing their views, it attacks the very foundation of a free society.
Last week, Jimmy Kimmel’s show was temporarily stopped from airing when the government warned a private company about potential consequences. This situation raises serious concerns about free speech in the United States.
Our government is trying to suppress dissenting voices by threatening the jobs and careers of journalists, performers, and other creative professionals. This behavior violates the fundamental principles and constitutional protections our country is founded on.
This situation affects far more than just our field. Teachers, government workers, lawyers, scientists, colleges, students, and countless others are currently experiencing threats to their ability to speak freely.
No matter our political views or how involved we are in politics, we all care about our country. We also agree that everyone deserves to be heard, and that if anyone’s voice is suppressed, it affects us all.
Now is the time to protect free speech for everyone in the United States. We’re calling on all Americans to stand with us and the ACLU to defend the rights guaranteed to us by the Constitution.
Over 430 actors, directors, writers, and comedians – from film, television, and the stage – have signed on.
Kimmel has yet to make a public comment on the suspension.
Disney’s ABC network temporarily stopped airing Jimmy Kimmel’s late-night show, which he’s hosted since 2003. This happened just hours before the September 17th episode, after Kimmel made comments about the shooting of Kirk in Utah during a previous show that week.
Jimmy Kimmel stated that supporters of Donald Trump, often called the ‘MAGA gang,’ are working hard to distance themselves from the person who allegedly attacked Charlie Kirk. Kimmel believes they’re trying to avoid blame and use the situation to their political advantage.
‘In between the finger-pointing, there was grieving.’
The broadcast then showed a video of Donald Trump speaking with reporters, responding to a question about how he was dealing with Kirk’s death.
When a reporter asked how he was doing, the president said he was ‘very good’ and then quickly changed the subject to the ongoing construction work on the White House ballroom.
‘He’s at the fourth stage of grief: construction,’ Kimmel joked.
This isn’t the way a grown person reacts to the death of a friend. It’s more like the simple sadness a young child feels when a pet dies.
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2025-09-23 23:39