Bad news for fans expecting to head to Philadelphia on Labor Day weekend for JAY-Z‘s annual Made in America musical festival: Festival organizers announced the festival is canceled this year.

“Due to severe circumstances outside of production control, the 2023 Made in America festival will no longer be taking place,” a statement the festival shared Tuesday read, The Hollywood Reporter reported. “This decision has been difficult and has not been made lightly nor without immense deliberation.”

The statement added that they “look forward to returning to Benjamin Franklin Parkway and the great city of Philadelphia in 2024.”

 

The festival didn’t go into detail about what led to the cancellation. The decision, however, comes one week after former tour dancers for Lizzo filed a lawsuit against the singer, accusing the 35-year-old and Big Grrrl Big Touring Inc. employees of sexual harassment and creating a hostile work environment. The lawsuit also claims the vocalist weight-shamed dancers and pressured them to engage in sexually explicit acts. Lizzo was set to headline this year’s Made in America festival along with SZA.

Some believe the allegations against Lizzo are the unspoken reason Made in America organizers called it quits on this year’s event.

“We already know about the circumstances in question,” one social media user wrote on X, formerly known as Twitter.

 

“Anything that involves Lizzo is getting called off,” another speculated.

One user said they “blame” Lizzo for the festival’s cancellation. Others wondered if Made in America organizers would let SZA headline the festival solo.

As Blavity previously reported, Lizzo has responded to the public allegations made against her. In a statement shared on social media Thursday, she shared her side of the story following news of the lawsuit.

“These last few days have been gut wrenchingly difficult and overwhelmingly disappointing. My work ethic, morals and respectfulness have been questioned. My character has been criticized,” she wrote on X. “Usually I choose not to respond to false allegations but these are as unbelievable as they sound and too outrageous to not be addressed.”

She explained, “I am not here to be looked at as a victim, but I also know that I am not the villain that people and the media have portrayed me to be these last few days. I am very open with my sexuality and expressing myself but I cannot accept or allow people to use that openness to make me out to be something I am not. There is nothing I take more seriously than the respect we deserve as women in the world. I know what it feels like to be body shamed on a daily basis and would absolutely never criticize or terminate an employee because of their weight. I’m hurt but I will not let the good work I’ve done in the world be overshadowed by this. I want to thank everyone who has reached out in support to lift me up during this difficult time.”

JAY-ZLizzoMade In America FestivalPHILADELPHIA