Kehlani Pride Month Concert Cancelled After Artist Says “I Am Anti-Genocide”
New York City event organizers have cancelled a Pride month concert by R&B artist Kehlani after pressure from Mayor Eric Adams’s office against the outspoken pro-Palestine artist.
The concert, billed as “Pride with Kehlani,” was slated to take place on June 26 in Central Park. It was organized by nonprofit SummerStage, which puts on free concerts across New York.
The group cited supposed “safety” concerns, which they said were brought to them by the mayor’s office, as well as “controversy surrounding Cornell University’s” recent cancellation of a performance by the singer over their pro-Palestine views.
The New York performance cancellation has also seemingly come as a direct result of Kehlani’s vocal support of Palestinian rights.
In a letter to SummerStage sent Monday by First Deputy Mayor Randy Mastro, the mayor’s office directly cited Cornell’s cancellation of the performance — and threatened to revoke SummerStage’s license and refer the matter to the police to determine if there was a “risk to public safety” posed by the concert.
“If the foundation does not promptly take steps to ensure public safety, the city reserves all rights and remedies to the foundation’s license,” Mastro wrote.
After the group cancelled the show, the........
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