Michael Franti's Canceled Cruise Concert: What's Known

Event Cancellation Amid Allegations of Abuse

On Sunday, the organizers of Soulshine at Sea 3, a concert cruise planned to depart from Miami to Cozumel, Mexico, in November, announced that the event had been canceled. This decision came after a series of allegations involving one of the event’s main performers, singer Michael Franti. These claims have led several artists on the lineup to withdraw from the event.

Accusations Against a Prominent Musician

Last week, Spanish American singer-songwriter Victoria Canal shared a statement on Instagram, accusing an unnamed "very powerful, decades-older man" of grooming and assaulting her when she was 19 and starting out in the music industry. She chose not to name her alleged abuser due to the risk of potential legal action. While the identity of the individual has not been disclosed, the accusations have sparked widespread concern among other artists involved in the cruise.

Artists Withdraw in Response to Allegations

Following the release of Canal's statement, multiple artists on the cruise’s lineup decided to pull out of the event. In an Instagram post, the jam band Dispatch stated they had "chosen to withdraw from the event" after becoming aware of "deeply concerning public allegations involving another artist on the lineup."

Reggae musician Hirie also took to Instagram, sharing that she had "decided to step back" due to "troubling allegations" against a "key figure connected to the event." Gospel artist Liz Vice echoed this sentiment, stating she had "chosen to withdraw from the event" and urging fans to "believe victims."

Singer-songwriter Maggie Rose also made the decision to no longer perform on the cruise, citing "allegations made by a peer of mine about another artist on the lineup" and expressing her desire to "stand in solidarity with her."

Organizers Announce Event Cancellation

In response to the growing concerns and withdrawals, event organizers officially canceled the Soulshine at Sea 3. In a statement posted to Instagram, they said, "In light of recent events, the Soulshine at Sea with Michael Franti event scheduled for November 4-8, 2025, is cancelled." They added that they were "actively working to announce a new event" held on the same dates.

Michael Franti Addresses the Allegations

After the cancellation, Michael Franti released his own statement addressing the situation. He acknowledged having a "romantic relationship outside my marriage" with "an artist who was touring with me." Franti stated that he was aware of the recent posts made by the artist regarding their relationship and expressed support for her right to speak publicly. However, he emphasized that the relationship was "completely consensual, based on mutual feelings and attraction." He disputed any version of the story that suggested otherwise but admitted to taking accountability for not recognizing the power imbalance during the relationship.

Franti noted that the artist was younger than him and that he was the headliner on tour. He concluded by saying, "For those reasons alone, I never should have allowed the relationship to become romantic."

Reactions and Ongoing Updates

When contacted for comment, representatives for Victoria Canal told The Cut, "It feels very liberating for Victoria to speak on her experience as she continues to heal. She hopes sharing can help young women entering the world of music to keep their eyes open and protect themselves."

The Cut has reached out to representatives for both Franti and Soulshine at Sea and will update this post if they receive a response.

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