In a shock for festival-goers, Jay-Z’s famed Made In America bash has been cancelled this year, citing “severe circumstances”. Is the recent Lizzo controversy to blame?
Scheduled for a grand kick-off next month (2 – 3 September) in Philadelphia, the event had some serious heavyweights on the roster, with SZA and Lizzo poised to headline.
The festival organisers announced the abrupt cancellation, emphasising the move was arranged “due to severe circumstances outside of production control.”
They further stressed: “This decision has been difficult and has not been made lightly nor without immense deliberation. Made in America has a legacy of delivering exceptional experiences for music fans and concert goers, and it is our commitment to always deliver a top-tier festival experience. We look forward to returning to Benjamin Franklin Parkway and the great city of Philadelphia in 2024.”
— Made In America Festival (@MIAFestival) August 8, 2023
Many are connecting the dots with Lizzo’s recent legal woes. It surfaced last month that the ‘Truth Hurts’ singer was being dragged to court by three ex-dancers, putting forth allegations of sexual harassment and a hostile work atmosphere.
Offering her two cents, a clearly hurt Lizzo shot back, stating she was “hurt” by the “sensationalised” claims. Turning the tables, two of the dancers opened up to Sky News, hinting at efforts to resolve the dispute “in-house” before lawyering up. However, they claim Lizzo’s camp met them with a swift “rebuttal”.
Cutting through the rumours, Lizzo responded, “These sensationalised stories are coming from former employees who have already publicly admitted that they were told their behaviour on tour was inappropriate and unprofessional.” She further highlighted her artistic commitment: “As an artist, I have always been very passionate about what I do. I take my music and my performances seriously because, at the end of the day, I only want to put out the best art that represents me and my fans.”
In a streak of festival hiccups, Made In America had also been sidelined in 2020, courtesy of the COVID scare, but had made a triumphant comeback in 2021.
