As Donald Trump’s presence sparked protests across Southern California Wednesday, the polarizing GOP candidate also cost Jimmy Kimmel his musical guests for the night.
R&B singer The Weeknd and rapper Belly both canceled their performance on “Jimmy Kimmel Live!” because Trump was set to appear on the episode, according to the Associated Press.
“I feel like the way I was raised was to be able to see through all the titles in this world — from religion to race,” Belly said in a statement. “I just didn’t want to feel like I was a part of a celebration for somebody who has beliefs that majority of us don’t agree with.”
A representative for “Jimmy Kimmel Live!” told TheWrap that the show had no comment on the matter.
The Weeknd won two Grammy Awards earlier this year, including best urban contemporary album for “Beauty Behind the Madness.” Belly has co-written many of The Weeknd’s hits, including “Earned It,” ”The Hills,” ”Into the Night” and “Often.”
The Weeknd appears on Belly’s song “Might Not,” which they were set to perform on Kimmel’s show.
Belly, who’s signed to Jay Z’s Roc Nation management, went on to say, “I’m here on a campaign of positivity and love and to contribute what I can to music. I create songs people go to sleep and wake up to, songs that they fall in love to.
“For me, being Muslim and being somebody that appreciates my access here in America, I love the fact that I’m able to be here. To play my part in this business is a privilege and a beautiful thing. The fact that I could lose that ability through the actions of someone such as Donald Trump isn’t right to me. At all.”
Belly shared an Oscar nomination for best original song with The Weeknd for “Earned It,” which appears on the “Fifty Shades of Grey” soundtrack.
Fortunately, if Trump is elected president, both artists have other countries to fall back on. Belly, whose real name is Ahmad Balshe, was born in Palestine, but is now based in Ottawa, Canada. While The Weeknd, a.k.a. Abęl Makkonen Tesfaye, is from Toronto.