Kehlani’s Central Park Concert Canceled Amid City Pressure
The City Parks Foundation has canceled a planned Central Park concert by R&B artist Kehlani, citing pressure from the administration of Mayor Eric Adams. The nonprofit, which organizes the annual SummerStage concert series, made the decision on Monday following a warning from a top city official. First Deputy Mayor Randy M. Mastro advised the group that its permit to continue the long-running series could be jeopardized unless it acted quickly to address unspecified “security concerns” related to the June 26 event.
The show, titled “Pride With Kehlani,” was scheduled as part of New York City’s LGBTQ+ Pride celebrations. It would have marked the singer’s second canceled performance in recent weeks. The first occurred at Cornell University, where officials dropped Kehlani from their spring concert lineup, citing her perceived antisemitic and anti-Israel views. In contrast, the Adams administration has not publicly referenced the singer’s political opinions in connection with the cancellation.
The move has drawn criticism from some free speech advocates and fans who argue that the cancellations reflect growing backlash against artists voicing pro-Palestinian views. As debate continues over the limits of political expression in public events, the city has remained focused on maintaining safety and public order.
