Selena Gomez Will Host Concert Supporting COVID-19 Vaccine Push
Selena Gomez will host Global Citizen’s Vax Live: The Concert to Reunite the World with a multi-network broadcast designed to inspire confidence in the COVID-19 vaccine and support equitable vaccine distribution.
According to The Hollywood Reporter, Jennifer Lopez, Foo Fighters, and H.E.R. are set to perform alongside J Balvin and Pearl Jam’s frontman Eddie Vedder.
28-year-old Gomez said, “I’m honored to be hosting Vax Live: The Concert to Reunite the World. This is a historic moment to encourage people around the world to take the COVID-19 vaccine when it becomes available to them, call on world leaders to share vaccine doses equitably and to bring people together for a night of music in a way that hasn’t felt possible in the past year. I can’t wait to be a part of it.”
Vax Live: The Concert to Reunite the World will be pre-taped at Los Angeles’ SoFi Stadium, featuring the large-scale vaccination site at the stadium.
YouTube will stream an extended 90-minute version of the concert on the Global Citizen channel featuring additional performances by NCT 127 and YouTube creators Daniel El Travieso, Kati Morton, ShootforLove, Thembe Mahlaba and The Try Guys.
During the special, Global Citizen will call on philanthropists and corporations to donate enough “dollars-for-doses” to vaccinate over 27 million health workers serving on the frontlines of the COVID-19 pandemic in some of the poorest nations. The special will also call on global development advocates and changemakers to urge world leaders to prioritize the equitable distribution of the COVID-19 vaccine.
Global Citizen CEO Hugh Evans said in a statement, “As a global community, we are in a race against time and the key to coming back together is the vaccine. We need to build vaccine confidence in the U.S. and globally, and encourage people to take the vaccine as quickly as possible. There is a light at the end of this tunnel, but getting vaccines to everyone, everywhere regardless of who they are or where they are from, is key to ensuring the end of this pandemic around the world. We must all unite to get back on track to eradicating extreme poverty.”
The concert will be hosted by the state of California, supported by the L.A. County Health Department, city of Los Angeles, City of Inglewood and L.A. Rams owner Stan Kroenke.
California Governor Gavin Newsom said in a statement, “The State of California is thankful to Global Citizen for demonstrating what’s possible when we embrace getting vaccinated and encourage others to get immunized as well. Music and the arts have long brought us together to celebrate moments of hope and happiness. This concert is no exception to that. We are excited to showcase the best of California reopening in compliance with the best standards of health and safety.”
L.A. County Department of Public Health director Barbara Ferrer, added, “COVID-19 vaccines are proving to be the most powerful tool in our fight to end the pandemic, so far saving the lives of millions of people in Los Angeles County alone. Global Citizen and Vax Live is showing us all what is possible when vaccinations are combined with strict safety measures. I am grateful for their commitment to this effort and appreciate the many partners from across the world coming together to raise awareness about the importance of getting vaccinated.”
Vax Live: The Concert to Reunite the World will be airing on Saturday, May 8, on ABC, CBS, Fox, and live-streamed on YouTube. The special will air on those outlets at 8 p.m. ET, except for Fox, where it will air at 11 p.m. ET / PT.
