Melinda French Gates Doubles Daisy Chain Fields Charity Donations to $20 Million
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Three current members of K-pop group KATSEYE made a surprise, brief appearance at Olivia Rodrigo's inaugural Daisy Chain Fields charity festival on Saturday, despite having pulled out of their scheduled performance after member Megan sprained her ankle in rehearsal. Yoonchae, Lara and Megan took to the stage in Irvine, California, to introduce nonprofit Baby2Baby ahead of stand-in act Devon Again's set, expressing support for Rodrigo and the festival's charitable community even though they could not perform.
The gesture underlined the festival's broader charitable mission, which saw ticket sales raise $10 million for ten nonprofits supporting women, including Planned Parenthood, Baby2Baby and the Center for Reproductive Rights; philanthropist Melinda French Gates has since pledged to match this, taking the total raised to $20 million. Megan said doctors had advised her to rest the ankle ahead of KATSEYE's upcoming tour, and only Daniela was absent from the group's four active members on stage, while Manon and Sophia remain on hiatus. The appearance came shortly after KATSEYE scored its first US Billboard 200 number one with the EP "WILD".
- Injured KATSEYE members made a surprise cameo at Rodrigo's charity festival
- They introduced nonprofit Baby2Baby despite skipping their own set
- Melinda French Gates' matching pledge lifted festival donations to $20 million
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Melinda French Gates has agreed to match funds raised at Daisy Chain Fields, the first charity music festival organised by singer Olivia Rodrigo, held in Irvine, California. Tickets to the event benefited ten nonprofits focused on women's causes, among them Baby2Baby, Planned Parenthood and the Center for Reproductive Rights.
Also connected to the festival is KATSEYE, a K-pop group whose members had been due to perform before an injury forced them to withdraw. The group has been drawing wider attention recently after reaching number one on the US Billboard 200 albums chart for the first time.
Melinda French Gates is a philanthropist known for funding health, education and women's causes, including through her own foundation. Her decision to match the festival's takings significantly increases the amount of money going to the participating charities.
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