Olivia Rodrigo cancels Disney show after Jimmy Kimmel controversy

Olivia Rodrigo made headlines after she canceled a surprise appearance at Disney’s Lilith Fair documentary premiere to stand with Jimmy Kimmel following his suspension.

The Grammy-winning star was reportedly booked as a secret performer at the Los Angeles event, alongside Sarah McLachlan and Jewel. 

Invitations promised “special surprise performances,” but when the curtain went up, no one took the stage.

McLachlan addressed the crowd and hinted at the reason. She spoke about censorship, free speech, and the ongoing fight for women’s and LGBTQ+ rights. 

Her words suggested that the controversy around Kimmel cast a shadow over the evening, leading to the cancelation of performances.

Although Rodrigo did not perform, she appeared briefly in the film. 

In her segment, the Please Please Please singer called the Lilith Fair artists her “north stars,” crediting them for shaping her artistic vision. 

But it was her absence from the stage that got everyone gossiping. However, fans quickly rallied behind her, praising her decision as bold and principled. 

Many described it as “activism done right,” while one social media user called her “an icon” for putting values over career ties to Disney. 

Others, moreover, criticised the Happier hitmaker for letting down fans who had hoped to see her.

The music icon’s decision came days after she voiced support for Kimmel on Instagram, calling his suspension “blatant censorship and abuse of power.”

For the unversed, Olivia first rose to fame with Disney in 2019 through High School Musical The Musical The Series before stepping away to launch her own chart-topping music career.

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