Two of the most prominent figures in 90s music unexpectedly canceled their performance in protest on Sunday night at the premiere of Disney’s much-anticipated Lilith Fair documentary.

Sarah McLachlan and Jewel pointed to the ‘muzzling of free speech’ after the suspension of Jimmy Kimmel for his remarks about the murdered conservative activist Charlie Kirk.

The surprising announcement emerged during what was intended to be a festive occasion at The Ford in Los Angeles for Lilith Fair: Building a Mystery, created by ABC News Studios and Hulu. Instead, the night took a turn towards the political and intensely personal.

While Disney has remained tight-lipped about the late-night host’s removal, the fallout has reached far beyond the studio to Washington, and now the music world.

The artists had been set to take the stage following the screening of the documentary celebrating the groundbreaking all-female music festival.

But in a stunning moment McLachlan emerged not to sing, but to speak. 

‘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,’ she said.

The crowd, packed with industry insiders, celebrities and artists erupted in cheers.

Earlier in her remarks McLachlan acknowledged the internal conflict she felt about attending the event at all in light of current events. 

‘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,’ she said.

‘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.

‘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… because I see music as a bridge to our shared humanity, to finding common ground.’

McLachlan, who co-founded Lilith Fair in the late 1990s as a female-driven response to the male-dominated festival circuit, drew on that legacy of unity and resistance. 

‘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 said.

‘So I really hope this documentary inspires everyone to continue to try and create positive change in your communities… keep championing the causes you believe in with kindness and empathy because ultimately we’re all in this together.’ 

A source confirmed to The Hollywood Reporter that McLachlan and Jewel had been slated for a ‘surprise’ live performance at the premiere, but following Disney’s indefinite suspension of Jimmy Kimmel, the two performers chose not to sing a note. 

‘We have collectively decided not to perform,’ McLachlan declared plainly, without naming Disney but clearly referencing the corporation’s current controversy.

The cancellation unfolding after ABC, which is owned by Disney, suspended Kimmel over remarks he made on air about the assassination of conservative activist Charlie Kirk.

The decision came after Nexstar and Sinclair, two of America’s largest local TV station owners, announced they would not carry Jimmy Kimmel Live! in the wake of the controversy. 

Facing mounting pressure, including from the Trump administration, Disney has pulled Kimmel’s show from air indefinitely. 

Although Sunday night’s event hosted a red carpet ahead of the screening, no members of the press were allowed, in what some interpreted as a deliberate choice to avoid uncomfortable questions about Kimmel’s suspension and Disney’s role.

Inside the venue, attendees were instead offered QR codes linking to organizations including PFLAG, the Geena Davis Institute, and the Downtown Women’s Center, as part of the event’s social impact mission. 

Also in attendance were singer Lisa Loeb, actor-comedian Mae Martin, and actor Charlie Barnett, all of whom remained for a post-screening reception after the music was scrapped.

‘While the previously scheduled musical performances will not take place, we invite you to stay for a reception following the screening to celebrate the documentary,’ organizers said in a last-minute statement Sunday afternoon. 

Disney has remained largely silent on the Kimmel controversy even as President Trump doubled down on attacking media organizations he claims are ‘illegal.’ 

‘They’ll take a great story and they’ll make it bad,’ Trump told reporters Friday in the Oval Office. ‘See I think it’s really illegal, personally.’ 

Meanwhile, FCC Chairman Brendan Carr, a Trump appointee, threatened to review ABC’s broadcast license if the network didn’t sanction Kimmel—a comment that Senator Ted Cruz likened to a mob threat.  

‘He says, “We can do this the easy way or we can do this the hard way”,’ Cruz said.

‘That’s right out of Goodfellas. That’s right out of a mafioso coming into a bar going, “Nice bar you have here. It’d be a shame if something happened to it.”‘