{"id":155872,"date":"2025-05-05T18:05:49","date_gmt":"2025-05-05T22:05:49","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.cyberlego.com\/web\/2025\/05\/05\/kehlanis-central-park-pride-concert-canceled-over-safety-issues-raised-by-nyc-mayor-2\/"},"modified":"2025-05-05T18:05:49","modified_gmt":"2025-05-05T22:05:49","slug":"kehlanis-central-park-pride-concert-canceled-over-safety-issues-raised-by-nyc-mayor-2","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.cyberlego.com\/web\/2025\/05\/05\/kehlanis-central-park-pride-concert-canceled-over-safety-issues-raised-by-nyc-mayor-2\/","title":{"rendered":"Kehlani\u2019s Central Park Pride Concert Canceled Over \u2018Safety Issues\u2019 Raised by NYC\u00a0Mayor"},"content":{"rendered":"

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\n\tIn light of the controversy surrounding Kehlani<\/a>\u2018s recently canceled performance at Cornell University, SummerStage has now pulled the plug on the singer\u2019s scheduled performance in Central Park, under advisement from New York City Mayor Eric Adams\u2019 office.<\/p>\n

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\t\t\t\t\t\t\"Kehlani<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n

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\t\t\t\t\tKehlani Responds to Cornell Canceling Performance: \u2018I Am Not Antisemitic, I Am Anti-Genocide\u2026\t\t<\/p>\n<\/h3><\/div>\n

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\n\tOn Monday (May 5), the festival announced that its Pride With Kehlani benefit show \u2014 which had been slated for June 26 as part of the city\u2019s annual summer concert series \u2014 would no longer be part of this year\u2019s programming. \u201cWe have been notified by the Mayor\u2019s Office that they have concerns for security and safety issues,\u201d reads a statement on SummerStage\u2019s Instagram. \u201cThose concerns are due to the controversy surrounding Cornell University\u2019s decision to cancel Kehlani\u2019s concert at the University, as well as security demands in Central Park and throughout the City for other Pride events during that same period.<\/p>\n

\n\t\u201cWe strongly and emphatically believe in artistic expression of all kinds,\u201d the post continues. \u201cHowever, the safety and security of our guests and artists is of the utmost importance \u2026 While artists may choose to express their opinions, their views may not necessarily be representative of the festival.\u201d<\/p>\n

\n\tAt press time, Pride With Kehlani is still listed on Central Park\u2019s online SummerStage schedule<\/a>.<\/p>\n

\n\tThe move to cancel comes just over a week after Cornell announced<\/a> that it had rescinded its invitation for Kehlani to headline this year\u2019s Slope Day, the school\u2019s 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<\/em>, he wrote that the decision had been made after learning that the \u201cGangsta\u201d singer had \u201cespoused antisemitic, anti-Israel sentiments in performances, videos and on social media.\u201d<\/p>\n

\n\tShortly afterward, Kehlani posted a video<\/a> clarifying \u201cfor the millionth time, that I am not antisemitic nor anti-Jew.\u201d<\/p>\n

\n\t\u201cI 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 \u2014 that\u2019s what I\u2019m anti,\u201d they continued at the time.<\/p>\n

\n\tIn response to the SummerStage cancellation, Kehlani reposted the festival\u2019s statement on Instagram Stories<\/a> and wrote \u201clol.\u201d The musician also snapped a selfie and revealed, \u201cI just found that one out on instagram by the way.\u201d<\/p>\n

\n\t\u201cI\u2019m so deeply grounded in my purpose, my mission, my art, my contribution,\u201d the \u201cAfter Hours\u201d artist added in another post on Stories. \u201cBack to this album. See you this weekend LA!\u201d<\/p>\n

\n\tKehlani has been vocal in their pro-Palestine stance throughout Israel\u2019s 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<\/a>, which cites the Palestinian Ministry of Health.<\/p>\n

\n\tIn their 2024 \u201cNext 2 U\u201d 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. <\/p>\n

\n\tSee the SummerStage statement below.<\/p>\n

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A post shared by SummerStage (@summerstage)<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/blockquote>\n