The highly anticipated Made in America Festival in Philadelphia has been canceled for this year, according to organizers.
The festival, which was scheduled to take place on September 2 and 3 at Benjamin Franklin Parkway, was set to feature headline performances from popular artists Lizzo and SZA. However, an announcement on the festival's Instagram account revealed that the event had been canceled due to "severe circumstances outside of production control."
The statement on Instagram expressed the difficulty of the decision and assured fans that the organizers hope to bring back the festival in 2024. Those who had already purchased tickets for this year's event will be refunded at the original purchase price.
The Made in America Festival, founded by billionaire rapper Jay-Z in 2012, aimed to expose attendees to a diverse range of artists and music genres. With the exception of 2020, the festival has been an annual early September event, attracting music lovers from all walks of life.
Over the years, it has featured performances from renowned artists such as Justin Bieber, Cardi B, Post Malone, Rihanna, Kanye West, Coldplay, Beyonc, and, of course, Jay-Z himself. Lizzo also performed at the festival in 2019.
In addition to Lizzo and SZA, other artists scheduled to perform at Made in America 2023 included Ice Spice, Lil Yachty, Miguel, Latto, Coi Leray, Doechii, and Metro Boomin.
While no specific details have been released regarding the sudden cancellation, some speculate that the sexual harassment allegations against Lizzo may have played a role. The New York Post ran a headline suggesting a connection between the festival's cancellation and Lizzo's ongoing sexual harassment lawsuit.
People magazine also noted that the festival's cancellation closely followed news of the lawsuit, highlighting that Made in America 2023 would have been Lizzo's first live appearance since the suit was filed.
Earlier this month, three of Lizzo's backup dancers filed a lawsuit accusing her of forcing them to engage in inappropriate behavior and "fat-shaming" them for gaining weight. Lizzo, who has built her career on promoting body positivity, vehemently denied the allegations, calling them "unbelievable" and "too outrageous to not be addressed." The singer reportedly felt blindsided by the lawsuit.
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