LL Cool J was forced to pull out of his appearance on Dick Clark’s New Year’s Rockin’ Eve With Ryan Seacrest 2022 on ABC after testing positive for Covid-19.    LL Cool J said in a statement:  “I know it’s disappointing to the millions of fans but my test came back positive for COVID, which means I’ll no longer be able to perform as scheduled at New Year’s Rockin’ Eve.  We were ready and I was really looking forward to ringing in 2022 in my hometown in a special way, but for now I wish everyone a healthy and happy New Year. The best is yet to come!”

LL was scheduled to perform in New York’s Times Square before midnight.  In addition, Chlöe, who was also set to appear on the broadcast, has pulled out of the show.  Despite the performance cancellations, the ABC special, which is celebrating its 50th anniversary, will still broadcast from New York, Los Angeles, New Orleans and Puerto Rico.

Billy Porter will host and perform in New Orleans; while Daddy Yankee host the Spanish-language countdown and perform in Puerto Rico. Ciara is set to host the Los Angeles segment, which includes performances by AJR and Daisy the Great, Avril Lavigne and Travis Barker, Big Boi and Sleepy Brown, Don Omar, French Montana, Macklemore with Ryan Lewis and Windset, Mae Muller, Maneskin, Masked Wolf, OneRepublic, Polo G and Walker Hayes.  And in Times Square, NYC, Journey and Karol G are set to take the stage.

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