PHILADELPHIA, PA – In a stunning development just hours before the event is scheduled to begin, GRAMMY® Award-winning singer and Philadelphia native Jazmine Sullivan has announced she is withdrawing from her headlining performance at the Wawa Welcome America July 4th Concert. Citing solidarity with the ongoing District 33 sanitation workers' strike, Sullivan's decision follows an identical move by co-headliner LL Cool J earlier this week, leaving the city's marquee Independence Day celebration without its two biggest stars.
The announcement was made Friday afternoon via Sullivan's social media channels, sending a shockwave through the city and leaving tens of thousands of potential attendees in limbo.
In her statement, Sullivan expressed her love for her hometown but emphasized her support for the striking city workers.
"Philadelphia, you have my whole heart. It pains me to do this, but I cannot in good conscience perform on a stage that represents a city that is not honoring its essential workers," the statement read. "I stand in solidarity with the members of DC 33 and their fight for a fair contract. I'm hoping for a quick and just resolution, and I look forward to coming home to celebrate with you all soon."
This makes Sullivan the second major artist to withdraw from the concert due to the labor dispute. Earlier this week, hip-hop icon LL Cool J announced his withdrawal for the same reason, stating he had to "stand in solidarity with the hardworking men and women of District 33."
The back-to-back withdrawals represent a major public relations crisis for the city and festival organizers on the nation's most patriotic holiday. The Wawa Welcome America concert, produced in partnership with Live Nation, is the centerpiece of the 16-day festival and typically draws hundreds of thousands of people to the Benjamin Franklin Parkway.
The strike by District 33 has already significantly impacted city services, with curbside trash and recycling collections suspended since Tuesday. The high-profile support from both headliners now brings the labor dispute to the forefront of the holiday celebration.
As of late Friday afternoon, Welcome America, Inc. and the Mayor's Office have not yet announced a revised plan for the evening's entertainment on the Parkway. It remains unclear whether the concert will proceed with opening acts only or if it will be canceled entirely. The only certainty is that Philadelphia's July 4th celebration is now overshadowed by the ongoing strike, leaving a cloud of uncertainty over the Benjamin Franklin Parkway.
