New York City has decided to cancel a planned concert in Central Park featuring the controversial artist Kehlani, known for his inflammatory remarks. The City Park Foundation, which is funded by taxpayers, pulled the plug on the event called “Pride with Kehlani” following a significant backlash.
This cancellation followed a letter sent by the Adams administration to the foundation, warning that licenses for all summer concert series could be revoked. The letter raised concerns over the event’s safety, especially in light of the controversy surrounding Kehlani’s previous performance that led to a cancellation at Cornell University.
In their statement, the foundation acknowledged the importance of artistic expression but emphasized that the safety and well-being of attendees and artists is their top priority, which ultimately led to the cancellation.
Kehlani’s music video, featuring the phrase “Long Live the Intifada,” has sparked criticism for potentially inciting violence against the Jewish community, contributing to the backlash surrounding the concert.
Councilman Julie Menin expressed support for the cancellation, stating that it was the appropriate decision. She highlighted that urban parks should foster inclusivity and should not be venues for hate speech, insisting that public funds shouldn’t be utilized to endorse such messages.
This isn’t Kehlani’s first instance of facing backlash; a similar situation occurred when a concert at Cornell was also canceled due to pushback from students.
Both the city and the foundation maintain that they have no influence over the selection of performers. The Summer Series is backed by public funds, with the foundation acting as the financial arm for the city’s parks department.
