NYC blasted for tapping anti-Israel performer Kehlani for taxpayer-funded Central Park Pride concert

Yahoo

21-05-2025

Jew-bashing performer Kehlani is set to take the stage at a taxpayer-funded Pride event in Central Park this summer — a week after her show at Cornell University was canceled following a massive uproar.
The City Park's Foundation — a taxpayer-funded organization — invited the controversial singer to perform at the city's Summer Stage series in June for a benefit concert advertised as 'PRIDE WITH KEHLANI.'
The singer notoriously posted a music video last spring that begins with 'Long live the Intifada' — a phrase that is widely criticized as implying violence towards the Jewish community.
The announcement prompted Democratic Congressman Ritchie Torres to send a letter to City officials slamming their decision to feature the divisive musician.
The letter, addressed to Mayor Eric Adams and head of the City Parks Foundation Heather Lubov, along with Live Nation CEO Michael Rapino, outlined some of Kehlani's particularly hateful remarks.
'Kehlani has a history of hate, marked by rhetoric calling for an 'Intifada Revolution,' the 'dismantling of Israel,' and the 'eradication of Zionism,'' the South Bronx representative wrote.
'America's largest city has no business subsidizing or sanitizing antisemitism at taxpayer expense,' he added on X. 'Stop mainstreaming the extremes and inviting those who invite violence.'
Cornell University disinvited Kehlani from performing at their end-of-year concert after an influx of backlash from students.
Student group Cornellians for Israel launched a petition and a GoFundMe to boycott the school's 'Slope Day' event if they allowed her to perform.
Members of New York's Jewish community have also expressed serious concerns about the city's decision to showcase Kehlani.
'Utilizing city taxpayer money to support hate speech is unacceptable,' said Councilwoman Julie Menin (D-Manhattan), who sits on the Jewish Caucus. 'These concerts should be celebrating inclusiveness and the great diversity of our city, not demonizing any group and calling for its eradication,' she said.
Mark Treyger, CEO of Jewish Community Relations Council of New York also expressed his dismay with the city's decision.
'An individual who refers to Jews as the `f–cking scum of the earth' and calls for their annihilation has no business performing in the heart of New York City, which happens to be home to the largest Jewish population outside of Israel. Period,' Treyger said.
The city parks department did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
A spokesperson for the mayor said, without further explanation, that the parks department doesn't 'select, contract, or pay the artists.'
'City Parks Foundation raises private funds to support its programming and receives City Council discretionary awards,' the spokesperson added.
Hizzoner later reitered that in a post on X responding to Torres.
'Congressmember, now you know @NYCParks does not select, contract, or pay the artists, and does not fund the City Parks Foundation at all. It's a private organization and the only taxpayer funds it can receive are City Council discretionary awards, just like you advocated for when you were a councilmember and allocated funding for the City Parks Foundation,' Adams wrote.
'We'll formally respond to the letter you sent us, but your letter should be addressed to Speaker Adams and her councilmembers who have control over their own discretionary funding.
'Our administration will not fund organizations that promote antisemitism or any other form of hate.'
But Torres doubled down.
'The City Charter grants the Mayor the authority to impound city funds. You unquestionably have the power to withhold city funding from any organization or event that provides a platform for antisemitism,' he responded on X.
'I find it hard to believe that the most powerful elected official in New York City is powerless to act on a city matter involving city funds.'
Benefit concerts, like the Kehlani concert, also fund the festival.