Canadian singer-songwriter Sarah McLachlan has accused Disney of 'burying' her documentary about the all-female Lilith Fair festival, after the company temporarily suspended Jimmy Kimmel's talk show. McLachlan, who founded the festival in the 1990s, initially refused to perform on the show in solidarity with free speech but later appeared as the musical guest when Kimmel returned on 23 September.
Speaking at the premiere of the documentary 'Lilith Fair: Building a Mystery', distributed by a Disney subsidiary, McLachlan criticised what she called the 'insidious erosion of women's rights, of trans and queer rights'. The 57-year-old artist, who has a new album 'Better Broken' out this week, described the fight for equality as 'terrifying and enraging'.
McLachlan, who faced bomb threats during the original Lilith Fair tours, said the response to her recent anniversary tour for the 1994 album 'Fumbling Towards Ecstasy' was 'overwhelming'. The album includes the haunting single 'Possession', inspired by obsessive fan letters she received.
The singer noted that she had been hesitant to release new music at her age, but felt compelled to use her platform to address political issues. Her song 'One in a Long Line' is a response to the overturning of Roe v Wade and the erosion of women's rights, with her two daughters providing backing vocals.
McLachlan said the decision to include her daughters was deliberate, as the song is 'more about them than it is about me'. She added that she wanted to channel anger into action and 'figure out a way forward' for future generations.
