Full Breakdown
Cardi B Joins Global Citizen Festival Lineup, Replacing The Weeknd
9/22/2025, 11:53:01 PM
Major Lineup Change at Global Citizen Festival
The 2025 Global Citizen Festival, scheduled for September 27 at Central Park's Great Lawn in New York City, has announced a significant change in its lineup. Cardi B will replace The Weeknd, who withdrew from the event due to personal reasons. The Weeknd expressed his regret on social media, stating, “I regret to share that, due to personal reasons, I am unable to perform at Global Citizen. Thank you to my fans for taking action with them, as I believe in their mission deeply.”
Cardi B, who recently released her second album, *Am I the Drama?*, expressed her excitement about performing in her hometown. She stated, “Central Park, I’m coming for you!!! I can’t wait to be home in New York, and to bring my new songs and all the DRAMA to the Global Citizen Festival. This one’s not like other music festivals — this one is about coming together to help children around the world, and I’m so proud to support such an important cause.”
Festival Goals and Initiatives
The Global Citizen Festival aims to mobilize $200 million to protect 30 million hectares of the Amazon rainforest and ensure that 30,000 children worldwide can access quality education and soccer, in partnership with FIFA. The festival's campaign will also focus on providing energy access for 1 million people across Africa and registering 40,000 New Yorkers for volunteer opportunities.
The event is presented by Cisco, with major partners including Authentic Brands Group, Bridgewater Associates, Delta Air Lines, PayPal, Venmo, and Procter & Gamble. The festival will be co-hosted by Hugh Jackman, alongside other notable figures such as Bill Nye and Adam Lambert.
Criticism and Opposition
While the festival garners significant attention for its charitable efforts, some critics argue that the reliance on celebrity performances may overshadow the core mission of addressing extreme poverty. However, Global Citizen co-founder and CEO Hugh Evans emphasized the importance of the festival's mission, stating, “We are incredibly grateful to Cardi B, who will light up Central Park in spectacular fashion. We wish The Weeknd support and want to thank him and his fans for all taking action with us to help end extreme poverty.”
Official Statements
Global Citizen has partnered with various nonprofit organizations across New York City, including Bowery Mission, Covenant House, and Women in Need, Inc., to further its mission. The festival encourages fans to earn free tickets by taking action on issues related to poverty through the Global Citizen app.
Verbatim Quotes
- “Central Park, I’m coming for you!!! I can’t wait to be home in New York, and to bring my new songs and all the DRAMA to the Global Citizen Festival. This one’s not like other music festivals—this one is about coming together to help children around the world, and I’m so proud to support such an important cause. New York City—see you Saturday. Let’s get it!!!” — Cardi B
- “I regret to share that, due to personal reasons, I am unable to perform at Global Citizen. Thank you to my fans for taking action with them, as I believe in their mission deeply. Thank you for your understanding and support.” — The Weeknd
- “We are incredibly grateful to Cardi B, who will light up Central Park in spectacular fashion.” — Hugh Evans, CEO of Global Citizen
The Global Citizen Festival will be streamed live on multiple platforms, including YouTube and Apple Music, allowing a global audience to participate in this unique blend of music and activism.
