Kehlani’s Central Park Pride Concert Canceled Over ‘Safety Issues’ Raised by NYC Mayor
Cornell previously canceled a Kehlani performance, saying the singer "espoused antisemitic, anti-Israel sentiments in performances, videos and on social media."
In light of the controversy surrounding Kehlani‘s recently canceled performance at Cornell University, SummerStage has now pulled the plug on the singer’s scheduled performance in Central Park, under advisement from New York City Mayor Eric Adams’ office.
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On Monday (May 5), the festival announced that its Pride With Kehlani benefit show — which had been slated for June 26 as part of the city’s annual summer concert series — would no longer be part of this year’s programming. “We have been notified by the Mayor’s Office that they have concerns for security and safety issues,” reads a statement on SummerStage’s Instagram. “Those concerns are due to the controversy surrounding Cornell University’s decision to cancel Kehlani’s concert at the University, as well as security demands in Central Park and throughout the City for other Pride events during that same period.
“We strongly and emphatically believe in artistic expression of all kinds,” the post continues. “However, the safety and security of our guests and artists is of the utmost importance … While artists may choose to express their opinions, their views may not necessarily be representative of the festival.”
At press time, Pride With Kehlani is still listed on Central Park’s online SummerStage schedule.
The move to cancel comes just over a week after Cornell announced that it had rescinded its invitation for Kehlani to headline this year’s Slope Day, the school’s annual event for students celebrating the last day of classes. In an email from university President Michael I. Kotlikoff obtained by The New York Times, he wrote that the decision had been made after learning that the “Gangsta” singer had “espoused antisemitic, anti-Israel sentiments in performances, videos and on social media.”
Shortly afterward, Kehlani posted a video clarifying “for the millionth time, that I am not antisemitic nor anti-Jew.”
“I am anti-genocide, I am anti- the actions of the Israeli government, I am anti- an extermination of an entire people, I am anti- the bombing of innocent children, men, women — that’s what I’m anti,” they continued at the time.
In response to the SummerStage cancellation, Kehlani reposted the festival’s statement on Instagram Stories and wrote “lol.” The musician also snapped a selfie and revealed, “I just found that one out on instagram by the way.”
“I’m so deeply grounded in my purpose, my mission, my art, my contribution,” the “After Hours” artist added in another post on Stories. “Back to this album. See you this weekend LA!”
Kehlani has been vocal in their pro-Palestine stance throughout Israel’s ongoing war against Hamas, which began immediately after the terrorist group killed 1,200 people and kidnapped more than 250 others at the Nova Music Festival on Oct. 7, 2023. Since then, more than 52,000 Palestinians have been killed in Gaza, according to CNN, which cites the Palestinian Ministry of Health.
In their 2024 “Next 2 U” visual, Kehlani wore kaffiyehs and featured dancers waving Palestinian flags. Before that, they were one of several musicians who signed the 2023 Artists Against Apartheid letter.
See the SummerStage statement below.
