The Weeknd Canceled His Jimmy Kimmel Appearance Because of Donald Trump

R&B singer The Weeknd and his collaborator, rapper Belly, canceled a scheduled performance on Jimmy Kimmel Live Wednesday in protest of another guest on the show, presidential candidate Donald Trump. Trump has called for a ban on Muslims entering the United States, and the Canadian performers, one of whom is Muslim, did not want to share a stage with the man promoting those ideas.

"I'm here on a campaign of positivity and love and to contribute what I can to music," Belly told the Associated Press. "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."

Trump did not address The Weeknd and Belly's act of protest during his appearance.

Belly has a mixtape, called Another Day in Paradise, scheduled for release Friday. While the Kimmel appearance would have been a great promotional opportunity, taking a political stand is even better.